The usability of neopterin in determining disease course in COVID-19

Authors

• Duru Mıstanoglu Ozatag, From the of Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (Ozatag, Korkmaz) and from the Department of Biochemistry (Koçak), University of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Kutahya; and form the Department of Internal Medicine (Keskin), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
• Pınar Korkmaz, From the of Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (Ozatag, Korkmaz) and from the Department of Biochemistry (Koçak), University of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Kutahya; and form the Department of Internal Medicine (Keskin), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
• Havva Keskin, From the of Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (Ozatag, Korkmaz) and from the Department of Biochemistry (Koçak), University of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Kutahya; and form the Department of Internal Medicine (Keskin), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.
• Havva Koçak, From the of Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (Ozatag, Korkmaz) and from the Department of Biochemistry (Koçak), University of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Kutahya; and form the Department of Internal Medicine (Keskin), Faculty of Medicine, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the usability of neopterin in demonstrating the progression of COVID-19. As a result of uncontrolled activation of COVID-19 monocytes and macrophages, IFN gamma increases and the resulting inflammatory response causes organ damage. IFN released from T cells causes an increase in gamma neopterin levels. Therefore, measurement of neopterin levels can be used to indicate immune system activation and disease progression. Methods: The study was carried out prospectively in two different centers. The patients were divided into two groups (mild-moderate and severe) and clinical, laboratory, imaging findings and neopterin levels at hospitalization were compared. Results: 100 patients were included in our study, 41 of these patients were male. Forty-six patients were identified as severe COVID-19. C-reactive protein, lymphocyte count, fibrinogen, D dimers, lactate dehydrogenase, procalcitonin, troponin and neopterin levels were significant in indicating disease severity. ( p <0.05). In ROC analysis, 0.642 for neopterin, 0.698 C-reactive protein, 0.331 lymphocyte count, 0.679 procalcitonin, 0.633 fibrinogen, 0.667 D dimers, 0.655 troponin and 0.706 lactate dehydrogenase were detected and these values were significant. Conclusion: In our study, neopterin was detected as an important indicator in determining the course of COVID-19.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

767

Last Page

772

Recommended Citation

Ozatag, Duru Mıstanoglu; Korkmaz, Pınar; Keskin, Havva; and Koçak, Havva (2023) "The usability of neopterin in determining disease course in COVID-19," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 44: Iss. 8, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2023.44.8.20230365