Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Mar 1983
[Neopterin, a new biochemical marker for the detection of activated T lymphocytes].
In this review evidence is summarized indicating that the pteridine compound, neopterin represents a new and clinically useful biochemical tool to detect activated T-lymphocytes. T-cells stimulated in vivo or in vitro by allogeneic or virally or chemically modified autologous cells produce large amounts of this molecule. ⋯ These findings suggested that evaluation of neopterin levels might represent a means for the biochemical monitoring of disease states mediated by or associated with activated T-cells. Our clinical data obtained on patients suffering from allograft rejection, viral disease, or autoimmune states strongly support this concept.