title: Urinary neopterin concentrations vs total neopterins for clinical utility.
abstract: Neopterin measurements are especially useful as an early marker in (e.g.) allograft rejections and in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). An increased concentration of total neopterins (neopterin + dihydroneopterin) is also a significant marker in patients with HIV-1 infection. In this study we compared concentrations of neopterin and total neopterins in urine samples from 77 homosexual men with and 73 without established HIV-1 infection. HIV-1-seropositive homosexual men had higher concentrations of neopterin and total neopterins (and 7,8-dihydroneopterin) in their urine than did those who were HIV-1-seronegative, and there was a close correlation between neopterin and total neopterins. Both neopterin variables correlated inversely with CD4+ T-cell counts and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratios but not with CD8+ T-cell counts in the HIV-1-seropositive men. Our data indicate that measurements of neopterin and total neopterins are of almost equal potential for clinical diagnosis. However, when measuring total neopterins, which includes oxidation of 7,8-dihydroneopterin to neopterin, more strict requirements of sample collection and handling are necessary to avoid degradation of the 7,8-dihydro derivative.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milstien
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reibnegger
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goedert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wachter
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine*; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000652:urine; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019798:Neopterin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011621:Pteridines / Q000652:urine*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D011621:Pteridines; C000976:7,8-dihydroneopterin; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin