Correlation of Serum Interferon Gamma and Neopterin Concentrations in Africans with Various Diseases

Abstract

Concentrations of interferon gamma in serum and of neopterin in serum and urine were determined in 55 Tanzanians attending a local hospital for various diseases or complaints. For comparison, serum concentrations of interferon gamma and of neopterin were also measured in 76 clinically healthy Austrian blood donors. Both interferon gamma and neopterin concentrations were significantly higher in patients than in blood donors. Both analytes were significantly correlated with each other, and both exhibited similar behaviour in dependence on clinical diagnosis. The results support use of neopterin determination for indirect measurement of endogenous production of interferon gamma.