Improved HPLC determination of urinary neopterin.

In order to improve the urinary neopterin measurement, the reversed-phase HPLC method has been reevaluated. The parameters which influence the chromatographic behavior of 12 pteridines were studied: nature of buffer, pH, ionic strength, addition of organic modifier to the mobile phase. Accordingly, an isocratic HPLC method is described which offers a good compromise between specificity and analysis time. This method is well-suited to automation in routine clinical laboratory use. Using this HPLC method, urinary neopterin related to creatinine was determined in lung diseases (neoplasm, sarcoïdosis and bronchial asthma) and in kidney allografts. This method was shown to be useful in the diagnosis and in the monitoring of treatment of rejection episodes.