NEOPTERIN LEVELS IN ALCOHOL-DEPENDENT PATIENTS

Chronic alcohol exposure appears to suppress cell-mediated immunity wh ich may contribute to the high incidence of infections among alcohol-d ependent patients. We measured serum neopterin, as a marker of macroph age function and T-lymphocyte activation, in 26 alcohol-dependent pati ents. The mean serum neopterin in these patients was significantly low er than the mean serum neopterin in matched controls. In those who abs tained, the mean serum neopterin at 3 weeks rose and was no longer sig nificantly different from controls. Our findings suggest that alcohol- dependent patients have suppressed macrophage function which may be re versible within 3 weeks of abstention.