Reference Standard of Serum Neopterin Concentration in Healthy Children

Abstract

Introduction: Increased neopterin concentrations are observed in many diseases in which cell immunity is stimulated. A quick and sensitive method for monitoring the changes in immune system can be useful for understanding etiopathogenesis of the disease and choosing the appropriate treatment. There are only few known data concerning normal serum neopterin value in children, therefore the wide clinical use of this parameter is limited. Aim: to evaluate the referential neopterin concentration in serum in healthy children according to age and gender. Patients and methods: 105 healthy children, 47 girls and 58 boys, aged 1 month -17.9 years were examined. Clinical examinations and laboratory test including whole blood count, serum C-reactive protein, urea, and creatinine level, were conducted. The serum neopterin level was analyzed by ELISA (BRAHMS, Hennigsdorf/Berlin, Germany). The results were used for reference standard evaluation of serum neopterin level in healthy children. Results: The serum neopterin concentrations in children were 2.87 -14.78, mean 5.47 ± 2.58 nmol/L. No significant correlation was found between children's age and serum neopterin level. There were also no differences among serum neopterin level in different age groups: under 5, 5 to 10, and over 10 years, and between girls and boys. The estimated cut-off value 11 nmol/L of serum neopterin level for whole group of children made the 94.3% test sensitivity. Conclusion: Serum neopterin concentration is lower than 11 nmol/L in healthy children after neonatal period, and is independent of childrens' age or gender.

The Use of Neopterin as a Noninvasive Marker in Monitoring Diseases in Wild Chimpanzees

“…However, the age effect on Neo levels may be more visible when comparing between age classes (e.g., children to adults) rather than within. Plata-Nazar et al (2007) and Satoh et al (1998) also found no age dependence when examining Neo levels within children and adolescents. In our study individuals, uNeo levels showed a high degree of intra-individual fluctuation which is found in children as well while levels in adults are stable (Winkler et al 2003).…”

Evaluation of clinical usefulness of serum neopterin determination in children with bacterial infections

“…The determined neopterin concentrations in blood serum of children from this group were used to establish reference values. The cut-off point of serum neopterin concentration, irrespective of children's age or sex, was 11 nmol/l (Plata-Nazar et al, 2007).…”

Identification and age-dependence of pteridines in bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and bat bugs (C. pipistrelli) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

“…Pteridines can occur in three oxidation states with different stability 51 . Many authors mentioned different sensitivity in fluorescence detection of pteridines arising from their oxidation properties, among others also from the sensitivity to light 52,53 . At neutral pH, reduced forms are easily oxidized by molecular oxygen giving rise to stable fluorescent forms.…”