الفهرس 
Revie\v of the literatureOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system
i n flammatory disease with variable clinical manifestations. In association w i th anti-nuclear
antibody (ANA) production, various abnormal i t i es in B-cells, T-cells and macrophage
functions are noticed in patients with active SLE.
SLE can occur at any age, but has its onset primarily between ages 16 and 55 years. It occurs more
frequently in women than men. The cause of SLE remains unknown, although many observations suggest
a role for genetic, hormonal, immune, and environmental factors.
This study was carried out on 30 patients attending the outpatients or the inpatients section of
the internal medicine department, Kasr EL-Aini Hospital. They were diagnosed as SLE at the time of
their presentation (according to the American College of Rheu matology (ACR) criteria).
Assessment of the disease activity was done clinicall y and by laboratory investigations. These
investigations included anti-ds DNA, ES R, serum C3 and C4 levels. Patients were divided in to two
grou ps: group I (active stage included 15 patients) and group lI (inactive or remission stage
included 15 patients). In addition, 30 control subjects (group III) with matched age and sex were
included. They were picked up from volunteer employee in Kasr El-Ain i Hosp ital.
Neopteri n is a pyrazino-pyri md ine derivative formed from guanosi,n e triphosphate within the
biosynthetic p2.thway of biopterin.
guanosi nc t r iphosphate within the biosynthetic pathway.of b iopterin
I t i s specia l l y p rod uced by human macrophages when st imu l ated b:
i n ter kron :p rod uced from activated T lymphocytes.
Th us, i ncreased neopterin has been shown to be an earl ) speci fic and sensitive marker of
activation of the cellular immunt system i n several clinical settings including allograft
rejection, aut<
imm u ne and i n flammatory disease and certain mal ignant diseases a wel l.
Serum neopterin level was measured in the th ree groups. The resu lts showed a statistically
significant increased levels of neopteri n in group I (active) and group II (inactive) compared to
control (p<0.001 ) . The mean level of neopterin was significantly h igher i n group
I(active)compared to those of the group fl (inactive) (p<0.001 ).
There was a significant negative correlation between serum neopteri n and serum complement C3 in
patients of group I (active) (r= -0.44 & p<0.05) as well as in group II (remission)( rccc -0.47 &
p<0.05 )_
There was a significant positi ve correlation bet ween scrum neu pteri n k\cl and the followi ng
parameters in SLE pat ients; ESR ( r=0.738 & p<0.001 ) , albumi nurea (r=0.69 & p<0.001 ) , serum
urea ( re 0.585 & p<0.00 I ) and creatinine ( r=0.649 & p<0.00 I ). On the other hand there was
no significant correlation between serum n copteri n level and neither age nor disease
duration.
The present work also showed that neopteri n has 86.7%
:-> ensi t i \ i t y and 80% speci ficity, whi le other parameters, as an tids-
DNA, C3 and C4, had lower levels. They have 53- 66.7% sensitivity
and 50- 85% specificity.