title: Elevated urine neopterin levels in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to relate urine levels of neopterin, a marker of activation of the cellular immune system, with grading and staging of NASH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine concentrations of neopterin, routine tests, insulin and C-peptide levels were assessed in 50 patients with NASH, 25 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH), and in 26 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urine neopterin levels were found elevated in the NASH and CVH groups compared with controls. There was no significant correlation between urine neopterin levels and inflammation grade in the liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urine neopterin levels are a marker of cellular immunity and are higher in patients with NASH. However, neopterin levels were not significantly associated with histopathological grade and stage of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.forename: Erdinc
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yesilova
authors.forename: Ayhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.forename: Emin Ozgur
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Akgul
authors.forename: Mehmet Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Erbil
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagci
authors.forename: Cumhur
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bilgi
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dagalp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019798:Neopterin