Assessment of disease activity in pulmonary tuberculosis is difficult when AFB is not demonstrated in smear or culture of specimen. To elucidate the usefulness of urinary neopterin as an activity index of pulmonary tuberculoisis, urinary neopterin and creatinine ratio were measured in 24 normal healthy controls, 8 inactive pulmonary tuberculosis and 16 active pulmonary tuberculosis by high-performance liquid chromatography.
Urinary neopterin creatinine ratio in normal healthy control and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis were 1.15± 0.63 nmol/mg of Cr and 0.515± 0.63 nmol/mg of Cr, respectively. Urinary neopterin/creatinine ratio in total active pulmonary tuberculosis patient was 4.62± 4.91 nmol/mg of Cr. In minimal active pulmonary tuberculosis, the ratio was 5.49± 6.56 nmol/mg of Cr and in moderately advanced active pulmonary, the ratio was 3.35± 3.08 nmol/mg of Cr and in far advanced active pulmonary, the ratio was 5.12± 4.47 nmol/mg of Cr The difference of mean urinary neopterin levels between minimal, moderately difference of mean urinary neopterin levels between nomal controls and active pulmonary tuberculosis was statistically significant(P<0.005).
It is suggested that urinary neopterin level could be an useful index of disease activity in pulmonary tuberculosis.
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