To the Editor: We read with interest the recent authoritative review article by Apple et al. (1) regarding biomarkers and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Although the article is both exhaustive and clinically relevant, we felt that the authors failed to recognize the potential value of neopterin as a marker of cardiovascular risk. Neopterin, a pteridine derivative produced by activated macropha...

The hyperimmunoglobulinaemia D and per­ iodic fever (hyper-IgD) syndrome is typified by recur­ rent unpredictable febrile attacks with abdominal pain, joint involvement (arthralgias/arthritis), head­ ache, skin lesions and a polyclonal elevation o f serum IgD ( > 100 U m L ]). Interferon-gamma (IF N -7 ) is a major proinflammatory cytokine which could play a role in the pathogenesis o f the att...

The hyperimmunoglobulinaemia D and per­ iodic fever (hyper-IgD) syndrome is typified by recur­ rent unpredictable febrile attacks with abdominal pain, joint involvement (arthralgias/arthritis), head­ ache, skin lesions and a polyclonal elevation of serum IgD (> 100 U m L” 1). Interferon-gamma (IFN-7 ) is a major proinflammatory cytokine which could play a role in the pathogenesis of the attacks...

Concentrations of neopterin, a sensitive indicator for the activation of cellular immunity, were measured in urine samples of 44 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon at diagnosis. To judge the relative predictive value of neopterin concentrations, other routine clinical and laboratory variables were concomitantly determined. The patients were then followed up to I0 yr, and the abilities of...

BACKGROUND Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is related to plasma neopterin, an indicator of interferon-γ-mediated immune activation, and both biomarkers positively predict cardiovascular risk. We examined whether the association between tHcy and subsequent risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was modified by systemic concentrations of neopterin and C-reactive protein among patients with co...

A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was developed to simultaneously characterize interferon after i.v. and s.c. dosing at various dose levels. A sequential study in monkeys (n = 18) was conducted, where single doses of 1, 3, and 10 MIU/kg of recombinant-human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) 1a were given i.v. and then s.c. Plasma concentrations of IFN-beta were determined and biphasic ne...

INTRODUCTION Neopterin and biopterin are sub-products of redox reactions, which act as cofactors of enzymes responsible for nitric oxide production. The hypothesis is presented that plasma neopterin and biopterin evolve differently during the first days in a critically ill child. METHODS A single-centre prospective observational study was conducted on patients 7 days to 14 years admitted to o...

Clinical and laboratory parameters including blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neopterin were investigated in human-T-lymphotropic-virus-type-I associated-myelopathy/tropical-spastic-paraparesis-HAM/TSP and in HTLV-I carriers. HAM/TSP (n = 11, 2 males/9 females, median age = 48 years), recently diagnosed HTLV-I carriers (n = 21, 15 females/6 males, median age = 44 years), healthy individuals ...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Three categories of prognostic markers are best documented as having significance in relation to prognosis of HIV infection. These include HIV viral load, CD4 T-cell levels and plasma levels of soluble markers of immune activation. The plasma activation markers, like neopterin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukins etc., are products of cytokine activity a...

Neopterin is a marker of macrophage activation that has exhibited high plasma levels in atherosclerotic diseases including coronary heart disease and critical limb ischemia. The role of neopterin in chronic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, neopterin (Ν) serum concentrations were analyzed in asymptomatic (AsP) and symptomatic (SyP) patients with P...