Neopterin levels in alcohol-dependent patients.
Chronic alcohol exposure appears to suppress cell-mediated immunity which may contribute to the high incidence of infections among alcohol-dependent patients. We measured serum neopterin, as a marker of macrophage function and T-lymphocyte activation, in 26 alcohol-dependent patients. The mean serum neopterin in these patients was significantly lower than the mean serum neopterin in matched controls. In those who abstained, the mean serum neopterin at 3 weeks rose and was no longer significantly different from controls. Our findings suggest that alcohol-dependent patients have suppressed macrophage function which may be reversible within 3 weeks of abstention.
O'Hanlon
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, Priority Unit, Dudley, West Midlands, UK.
Salter
S
S
Scull
D
D
Labib
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase