title: [Serum neopterin level in children with lower respiratory tract infections].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  was to determinate the serum neopterin concentration in children with lower respiratory tract infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  eighty-seven children with lower respiratory tract infections, aged from 1 month to 8 years, were analyzed. The control group consisted of 105 children without infection. The serum C-reactive protein level and whole blood count with differential white blood count were estimated The serum neopterin concentration was evaluated using the immunoenzyme assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  statistically significantly higher serum neopterin concentration was observed in the studied than in the control group. The sensitivity of serum neopterin concentration evaluation in children with lower respiratory tract infection was 90.5% and specificity 55.2%. No correlation was found between serum neopterin concentrations and commonly evaluated inflammatory markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  serum neopterin concentration is elevated in children with lower respiratory tract infections and may be of clinical value as the marker of a viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Pediatrii, Gastroenterologii i Onkologii Dzieciecej Akademii Medycznej w Gdańsku.
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Łuczak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Plata-Nazar
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kozielska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delińska-Galińska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borkowska
authors.forename: Aldona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kotłowska-Kmied
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woś-Wasilewska
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kamińska
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019798:Neopterin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein