Elevated neopterin levels in Guillain-Barre syndrome. Further evidence of immune activation
S. Bansil, F. A. Mithen, B. S. Singhal, S. D. Cook and C. Rohowsky-Kochan
Department of Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103.
Neopterin is a by-product of guanosine triphosphate metabolism and is
produced by macrophages in response to lymphocytic activation. We have
studied serum neopterin levels in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome to
obtain further evidence of immune activation in this disease. Serum
neopterin levels were significantly elevated in patients with
Guillain-Barre syndrome compared with patients with other peripheral
neuropathies and multiple sclerosis and with healthy control subjects.
Serial analysis demonstrated that as neopterin levels fell, the clinical
status of the patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome improved and soluble
interleukin 2 receptor levels dropped. Thus, lymphocytic and macrophage
activation may play a role in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
