Neopterin and interferon gamma serum levels in renal allograft recipients.
In the follow-up of children receiving renal allografts the early differential diagnosis of infections and rejection episodes is the main problem. Serum levels of neopterin (N), a pteridine released from stimulated macrophages, was determined by radioimmunoassay. Also interferon-gamma (IF) serum levels, a marker of T lymphocyte activity, were determined with an immunoradiometric assay in 19 kidney-transplanted children. Both, infections and rejection episodes, are accompanied by distinct increases in N. The IF are elevated 1-3 days earlier than N, the median values during infections being significantly (p less than or equal to 0.001) higher than those during rejection crises. The routine measurement of N and IF allow the simple, quick and reliable monitoring of the immune status, which seems to be of a high relevance for the daily monitoring of transplant recipients.
Khoss
A E
AE
Department of Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
Balzar
E
E
Steger
H
H
Howanietz
H
H
Wladika
W
W
Hamilton
G
G
Woloszczuk
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic; D019798:Neopterin
D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D007371:Interferon-gamma