title: Monitoring of serum neopterin levels in renal transplant recipients: increased values during impaired renal function and cytomegalovirus infection.
abstract: In 92 renal transplant recipients, serum or plasma levels of neopterin were significantly elevated during pretransplant uremia, rejection, cyclosporin A induced nephrotoxicity and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. In patients with normal serum creatinine (less than 115 mumol/l) 71% had elevated serum neopterin levels. None of 19 cyclosporin A treated patients with stable renal function had a normal level of neopterin compared to 50% for patients treated with azathioprine (p less than 0.05). Due to the dependency on renal function the serum levels of neopterin could not distinguish between rejection and cyclosporin A induced nephrotoxicity. Marked increases in neopterin levels were seen during infections and especially during CMV infection. Determination of neopterin levels may be helpful in the diagnosis of CMV infection.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäckman
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ringdén
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Björkhem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000009:adverse effects; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D003404:Creatinine