title: beta 2-microglogulin levels in cancerous and other disease states.
abstract: Serum beta2-microglobulin levels were measured, by radioimmunoassay, in patients suffering from a variety of benign and malignant clinical disorders. Elevated beta 2-microglobulin values were found in neoplastic and non-neoplastic disorders affecting a variety of organs. The most striking increases in beta 2-microglobulin are found in the plasma cell dyscrazias and several solid tumors, particularly those affecting the lung. Lymphoid neoplasms demonstrate a spectrum of changes of serum beta 2-microglobulin. At the one end of this spectrum were the plasma cell tumors, which show a high incidence of raised beta 2-microglobulin levels, while patients with Hodgkin's disease rarely show such increases in circulating beta 2-microglobulin.
mesh_terms: D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008722:Methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin