Measurement of neopterin in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
59 patients with verified RA diagnosis (22 cases of joint lesion stage I-IIa, 27 of stage IIb-IIIa, 10 of stage IIIb-IV established roentgenologically, 48 patients were seropositive by IgM-rheumatoid factor) were examined for concentrations of serum neopterin and C-reactive protein (CRP). The activity and prognostic factors were characterized by modified Wilke method, the severity index was calculated. 100 healthy donors served controls.
Immune inflammation in RA develops with growing neopterin concentration in the serum. This concentration well correlates with inflammation activity and intensification of systemic symptoms.
Neopterin measurements may be important for determination of inflammation activity in RA. Further efforts should be made to ascertain relationships between neopterin hyperproduction and disturbances of cellular immunity in RA, clinical value of neopterin assays compared to the other laboratory evidence, feasibility of using neopterin levels to define prognosis and efficacy of on-going therapy.