Original Article

J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol. 1998; 3(1): 68-72.

Serum Neopterin Concentration in Children with Graves' Disease.

Sung Ho Jung, Moon Young Song, Byung Kyu Shu, and Byung Churl Lee

PURPOSE
Neopterin is a marker of activation of the T-lymphocyte/monocyte axis. We measured serum neopterin concentration to investigate whether serum neopterin levels are increased in children with Graves' disease and whether serum neopterin measurement can be used as a marker of disease activity in Graves disease. METHODS:Twenty children with Graves' disease(3 boys and 17 girls) and 15 healthy children(7 boys and 8 girls) are enrolled in this study. Serum neopterin concentrations are measured by radioimmunoassay.
RESULTS
Neopterin concentration in children with Graves' disease(1.59+/-1.25ng/ml) is not higher than that of healthy children(1.51+/-0.73ng/ml). Neopterin concentration is not influenced by thyroid function and remission state.
CONCLUSION
Serum neopterin level in children with Graves' disease can not be used as a marker of activity.

Keywords : Graves disease, Neopterin