title: Serum neopterin concentrations in healthy healthcare workers compared with healthy controls and patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare serum neopterin levels in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, healthy healthcare workers who had close contact with patients, and healthy volunteers. All of the healthy volunteers stated that they had not encountered possible risk factors for exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients, 39 healthy healthcare workers, and a control group of 39 healthy volunteers who had no infection or other diseases were included in this study. Neopterin assay was performed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum neopterin levels were 18.6+/-14.2 nmol/l in patients, 9.8+/-2.9 nmol/l in healthy healthcare workers, and 3.4+/-5.2 nmol/l in healthy volunteers. Serum neopterin levels in each group were significantly different from each other (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of neopterin in patients and healthy healthcare workers significantly differ from the levels in healthy controls. The higher serum neopterin levels in healthy healthcare workers may be attributed to latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, but it does not seem to be used in the diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection alone. However, more experiences are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Abant Izzet Baysal University Duzce Medical School, Duzce, Turkey. davutozdemir@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Davut
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesur
authors.forename: Ali Nihat
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Annakkaya
authors.forename: Gulnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarhan
authors.forename: Nevin Taci
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Hoca
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sencan
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ceyhan
authors.forename: Oner
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Balbay
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guclu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D019798:Neopterin