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Abstract
The chronic hepatitis B carrier state is defined by persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) for at least 6 months. Chronic hepatitis B has a dynamic natural history due to complex interactions between the virus and host immune response; thus, patients may show different patterns of HBV serology and viral replication.
Immune response against the virus can be specific or non-specific. Non-specific response occurs via cytokines and Neopterin is one of the most reliable markers of non-specific reaction. Viral persistency occurs in subjects having poor immune response to the virus.
Neopterin is a pyrazino-pyrimidine derivative, namely 2-amino 4-hydroxy-(1’,2’,3’ trihydroxypropyl) pteridine. Biosynthetically neopterin derives from guanosine triphosphate . Neopterin is produced by activated macrophages, in response to interferon-gamma derived from activated T cell. Recent attention has focused on neopterin as a marker for the activation of cell mediated immunity.
This study aimed to measure the serum level of neopterin in replicative and nonreplicative HBV carriers to assess the significance of neopterin as an indicator of immune activation.
This study included 53 hepatitis B virus carriers 15 of them were replicative and the other 38 were nonreplicative and 16 healthy volunteers with matched age and gender as a control group.
All groups were subjected to history taking, Complete clinical examination, Liver function tests, Hepatitis viral markers including Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B surface antibody
(HBsAb), Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) and Hepatitis B envelope antibody (HBeAb), Serum quantitative PCR for hepatitis B virus (for patients only) and Neopterin level in serum.