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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2008; 14(44): 6840-6843
Published online Nov 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6840
Serum neopterin levels in children with hepatitis-B-related chronic liver disease and its relationship to disease severity
Enver Mahir Gulcan, Ipek Tirit, Ayse Anil, Erdal Adal, Gulsen Ozbay
Enver Mahir Gulcan, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Istanbul Bakirkoy Maternity and Children Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Ipek Tirit, Ayse Anil, Erdal Adal, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul Bakirkoy Maternity and Children Training ad Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Gulsen Ozbay, Department of Pathology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence to: Enver Mahir Gulcan, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Istanbul Bakirkoy Maternity and Children Training and Research Hospital, Lati lokum sok. Günes apt. No. 7-1. Kat: 4. Daire: 7. Mecidiyekoy, Istanbul, Turkey. mahirgulcan@superonline.com
Telephone: +90-2122723496 Fax: +90-2165784960
Received: November 30, 2007
Revised: November 12, 2008
Accepted: November 17, 2008
Published online: November 28, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate serum neopterin levels and their correlations with liver function tests and histological grade in children with hepatitis-B-related chronic liver disease.

METHODS: The study population comprised 48 patients with chronic active hepatitis B, 32 patients with hepatitis-B-related active liver cirrhosis and 40 normal controls. Serum neopterin was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: The mean ± SD serum neopterin levels were 14.2 ± 5.6 nmol/L in patients with chronic hepatitis, 20.3 ± 7.9 nmol/L in patients with liver cirrhosis and 5.2 ± 1.4 nmol/L in control group. Serum neopterin levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis (P = 0.005) and cirrhosis patients (P = 0.008), than in control subjects. Cirrhotic patients had significantly higher serum neopterin levels than patients with chronic hepatitis (P = 0.004). There was a positive correlation between serum neopterin levels and alanine aminotransferase levels in patients with chronic hepatitis (r = 0.41, P = 0.004) and cirrhotic patients (r = 0.39, P = 0.005). Positive correlations were detected between serum neopterin levels and inflammatory score in patients with chronic hepatitis (r = 0.51, P = 0.003) and cirrhotic patients (r = 0.49, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that serum neopterin levels can be considered as a marker of inflammatory activity and severity of disease in children with hepatitis-B-related chronic liver disease.

Keywords: Hepatitis B; Chronic liver disease; Serum neopterin; Histological grade; Children