[The value of neopterin in etiological diagnosis of endogenous uveitis]

Neopterin concentration in blood serum and tear fluid was estimated in 94 patients with endogenous uveitis and 28 healthy subjects. Neopterin concentration was found to be elevated in blood serum of patients with herpetic (12,31+1,1 micromol/L), tubercular uveitis (17,77+4,18 18 micromol/L) and uveitis associated with systemic conditions (12,31+1,1 micromol/L). Neopterin concentration in blood serum of healthy subjects was 8,45+0,61 micromol/L. Dynamics of neopterin concentration in blood serum of patients with uveitis varies depending on etiology. Neopterin concentration in tear fluid of healthy subjects appeared to be higher as compared with blood serum and was as high as 14,52+1,61 micromol/L (p < 0.05). Due to wide range of neopterin concentration in tear fluid, absence of significant correlation with blood serum concentration, apparently because of additional "local" production, authors propose to use only blood serum neopterin concentration for etiologocal diagnosis and control of treatment efficacy.