Blood serum concentration of neopterin provides knowledge about current cells immunological respond and might be used as a predictor of the progression in many disorders. THE AIM OF THE STUDY was the assessment of the blood serum concentration of neopterin in patients with heart failure and evaluation if there is any correlation between this protein and the stage and etiology of chronic heart failure (CHF).
Material and methods: 47 patients with chronic heart failure were studied. They were divided into two subgroups: 21 patients with the etiology of CHF caused by hypertension and 26 patients with the etiology of CHF caused by ischemic heart disease. Based on the clinical symptoms patients, 19 of them were connected into the II class and 28 into the III class of heart failure according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system. Control group was 20 healthy volunteers. Blood serum concentration of neopterin had been assessed using radioimmunological method.
Results: The concentration of neopterin was statistically higher in group of patient with CHF. No correlation between concentration of neopterin and the etiology of CHF had been observed. Concentration of neopterin in patient with class III NYHA of heart failure was significantly higher than in group of patient with class II.
Conclusions: Chronic heart failure is associated with elevated blood serum concentration of neopterin. Serum concentration of neopterin does not depend on the etiology of heart failure. Heart failure progression increases neopterin concentration. In clinical practice blood serum concentration of neopterin could be considered as a prognostic factor for patients with heart insufficiency.