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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Measurement of Antibody Effects on Cellular Function of Isolated Cardiomyocytes
Published on: March 8, 2013
Patterns of serological markers for cellular immune activation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and chronic
M Samsonov1, D Fuchs, G Reibnegger
1Institute for Clinical Cardiology, All-Union Cardiology Research Center, Moscow, Russia.
Abstract:
We determined serum concentrations of neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin, soluble markers of cellular immune activation, in 27 patients with either dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or chronic myocarditis. Neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin concentrations were respectively increased in 2 and 5 of 11 patients with DCM and in 11 and 9 of 16 patients with chronic myocarditis. A higher cardiac functional class (according to the New York Heart Association) was associated with greater neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin concentrations. During follow-up of patients, both neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin concentrations in serum correlated with the course of disease. Additionally, correlations were significant between left ventricular functional tests (end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and ejection fraction) and neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin concentrations. We conclude that measurement of neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin are useful to monitor disease development in patients with myocardial inflammation.
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