Relation between endemic (Balkan) nephropathy and urinary-tract tumours.
Serum and urine beta 2-microglobulin concentrations were determined in 38-6% of the 869 inhabitants of a village in which both Balkan endemic nephropathy and papillary tumours of the urinary-tract epithelium are common. Over 23% of the "healthy" population had raised serum and/or urine beta 2-microglobulin. 5 of 6 patients with papillary tumours of the renal pelvis, without evidence of renal parenchymal involvement, and 13-4% of the "healthy" population had raised serum-beta 2-microglobulin. It is suggested that overproduction of beta 2-microglobulin, a light-chain-like immune globulin, by the tumour cells may result in a light-chain-like nephropathy--i.e., endemic Balkan nephropathy.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001796:Blood Protein Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002031:Bulgaria; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000209:etiology*; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine; D012424:Rural Population; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin