title: Serum concentrations of neopterin, soluble interleukin 2 receptor, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor in Wegener's granulomatosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible relationship between serum levels of neopterin, soluble tumor necrosis factor-55 receptor (sTNF-55R), and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) with disease activity in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum neopterin was measured by radioimmunoassay, sTNF-55R and sIL-2R were measured by ELISA in 26 patients with WG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum neopterin, sTNF-55R, and sIL-2R were significantly elevated in patients with generalized WG compared with healthy controls. Concentrations of the analytes correlated with disease activity indices in patients without infectious complications. The highest elevations of all 3 variables were observed in patients with intercurrent infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased serum levels of neopterin, sTNF-55R, and sIL-2R suggest activation of cellular immunity in WG.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Research Center, Moscow Sechenov Medical Academy, Russia.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Nassonov
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Samsonov
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tilz
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Beketova
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Semenkova
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baranov
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wachter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein