Document 0082
 DOCN  M9460082
 TI    Differential effect on serum neopterin and serum beta 2-microglobulin is
       induced by treatment in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
 DT    9408
 AU    Benfield TL; Schattenkerk JK; Hofmann B; Jensen BN; Nielsen TL; Lundgren
       JD; Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University; of
       Copenhagen, Netherlands.
 SO    J Infect Dis. 1994 May;169(5):1170-3. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94223088
 AB    Forty-three human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with
       Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) were enrolled in a study of
       adjunctive corticosteroid treatment for 10 days versus placebo, in
       addition to antimicrobial treatment. Levels of neopterin and beta
       2-microglobulin (beta 2M) were determined in consecutive serum samples.
       Initiation of antimicrobial treatment resulted in significantly
       increased neopterin levels, whereas beta 2M levels slightly decreased
       from pretreatment levels. In patients treated with corticosteroid, both
       neopterin and beta 2M decreased, by approximately 50% and approximately
       30%, respectively, and returned to baseline after discontinuation of
       corticosteroid treatment. Antimicrobial treatment alone did not affect
       either neopterin or beta 2M in healthy controls. Results indicate that
       treatment has a differential effect on the immune response: increased
       macrophage activation leading to neopterin production and decreased
       production of beta 2M by lymphocytes. Further, addition of
       corticosteroids modified and decreased this immune activation and may
       explain the earlier demonstrated beneficial effect of corticosteroids in
       PCP treatment.
 DE    beta 2-Microglobulin/*ANALYSIS  Adult  Antifungal Agents/THERAPEUTIC USE
       AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*BLOOD/DRUG THERAPY
       Biopterin/*ANALOGS & DERIVATIVES/BLOOD  Drug Therapy, Combination
       Female  Follow-Up Studies  Human  Male  Methylprednisolone/THERAPEUTIC
       USE  Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/*BLOOD/DRUG THERAPY  Support,
       Non-U.S. Gov't  CLINICAL TRIAL  JOURNAL ARTICLE  RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED
       TRIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).