Elevated urine neopterin levels in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
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.
Yaman
Halil
H
Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Cakir
Erdinc
E
Ozcan
Omer
O
Yesilova
Zeki
Z
Ozcan
Ayhan
A
Akgul
Emin Ozgur
EO
Erbil
Mehmet Kemal
MK
Bagci
Sait
S
Bilgi
Cumhur
C
Dagalp
Kemal
K
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*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019798:Neopterin