|
 
Last update: |
 |
|
|
04-Feb-2015
|
 |
|
|
Arch Hellen Med, 32(1), January-February 2015, 60-65 ORIGINAL PAPER Evaluation of neopterin as a prognostic factor in patients with beta-thalassemia, A.M. Abo Shanab,1 M.A. El-Desouky,2 N. Kholoussi,1 G. El-Kamah,3 A.A. Fahmi2 |
OBJECTIVE Investigation of whether the serum level of neopterin can be used as a marker in patients with β-thalassemia, evaluation of its clinical significance and correlation with other laboratory and clinical parameters, including the cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and immunoglobulins.
METHOD Study was made of 20 healthy subjects and 56 patients with β-thalassemia, ranging in age from 3 to 25 years. The serum levels of human neopterin, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by the ELISA method, and of hs-CRP and immunoglobulins IgA, IgM, IgG and IgG subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 by the nephelometric technique.
RESULTS The serum levels of neopterin, IL-6, TNF-α and hs-CRP were significantly higher in patients with β-thalassemia than in normal subjects, but the level of IL-4 was the same in the two groups. The levels of immunoglobulins IgA and IgG, as well as IgG subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 were significantly higher in patients with β-thalassemia, but the level of IgM was the same as in normal subjects.
CONCLUSIONS The increased serum level of neopterin found in patients with β-thalassemia may be due to inflammation occurring with frequent blood transfusions. The increase in neopterin was associated with elevation in hs-CRP, cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgG subclasses, and was not affected by sex or age.
Key words: β-thalassemia, Cytokines, hs-CRP, Immunoglobulin, Neopterin.
