Prognostic relevance of urinary neopterin in non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas

Neopterin excretion levels were assessed in 66 consecutive patients affected by non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). The logarithm of the mean value of the whole series was 2.71 (log [μmol neopterin/mol creatinine]), significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the control value (2.12). Fifty‐six of 66 patients had a raised excretion of neopterin in amounts statistically related to the stage of disease. The mean value (2.51) of patients in Stages I‐II was lower than the mean value (2.86) of patients in Stage III‐IV (P < 0.001). The 2‐year probability of survival was 64% for patients in Stages I‐II and 34% for patients in Stages III‐IV. However, patients with lower neopterin excretion (