[Serum neopterin, bacteremia and viral antibodies in dilated cardiomyopathy]

Quantitation of neopterin and morphological examination of bacteria circulating in the blood of 28 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy gave evidence for elevated neopterin concentrations in 22 of the examinees (> 10 nM/l). The highest neopterin levels occurred in patients with L-form bacteria. Concentrations of neopterin and antibodies to cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex were related. The above antibodies were associated with high neopterin levels in the serum. It is suggested that high amounts of serum neopterin may result from combination of viral and bacterial infection in dilated cardiomyopathy sufferers.