Serum neopterin changes in HIV-infected subjects: indicator of significant pathology, CD4 T cell changes, and the development of AIDS.

Abstract

Serum neopterin is a metabolite of dihydroneopterin triphosphate, which is produced from GTP during immune activation. A study was undertaken in homosexual male subjects followed at 6 month intervals for 3 or more years to determine the value of serum neopterin changes induced by HIV infection. The significance of serum neopterin levels in evaluating prognosis of HIV-infected individuals was also assessed. Serum neopterin was found to be a useful indicator of the presence of HIV infection. Stratification of 29 HIV seroconverters showed a strong inverse correlation between the serum neopterin rise and the blood CD4 T cell fall in the first year following HIV infection. Thus, a small increase in neopterin (less than 5 nmol/L) at the time of HIV seroconversion was associated with minimal CD4 T cell reduction and a large increase (greater than 12 nmol/L) was associated with a much greater CD4 T cell fall. Neopterin levels were markedly different (lower) in individuals with little or no CD4 T cell fall when compared with those with moderate or marked rates of T cell fall. This relationship between serum neopterin and the CD4 T cell level was further confirmed by an evaluation of both parameters in a group of 799 seropositive homosexual men. In this analysis, serum neopterin was shown to have a significant predictive value for the development of AIDS within 3 years. Furthermore, when serum neopterin and CD4 T cell measurements were considered together, the prognostic value of the combination was significantly greater than either alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: R N Melmed, J M Taylor, R Detels, M Bozorgmehri, J L Fahey
• Journal: Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (1988)) Vol. 2 Issue 1 Pg. 70-6 ( 1989) ISSN: 0894-9255 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2783972 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
• Biopterin
• Neopterin

Topics

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (blood, diagnosis, immunology, pathology)
• Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte (analysis)
• Biopterin (analogs & derivatives, blood)
• HIV Seropositivity (blood, immunology)
• Homosexuality
• Humans
• Male
• Neopterin
• T-Lymphocytes (classification, immunology)