title: Beta-2-microglobulin as renal diagnostic agent.
abstract: Our group has undertaken the determination of serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin in 250 patients. We have compared this diagnostic entity to radioisotopic glomerular filtration rate, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen. We have also analyzed the cost effectiveness of each of these diagnostic entities and combinations thereof. We conclude that beta-2-microglobulin is a simple test to perform; it is specific, sensitive, and accurate. Its cost effectiveness is excellent. We advocate its wide clinical usage.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012016:Reference Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D003404:Creatinine