title: [Increase of beta 2-microglobulin in drug addicts with anti-HIV antibodies and high risk of AIDS].
abstract: The beta 2-Microglobulin is a polypeptide present on the surface membrane of both B and T cells and is integrated into the structure of HLA antigenes. The beta 2-Microglobulin concentration have been used as a reliable indicator of glomerular and tubular function of the kidney. Increased serum concentration of beta 2-Microglobulin are observed also in lymphoproliferative disorders with high cell proliferation rates. More recently, increased concentration of beta 2-Microglobulin was shown in patients with anti-HIV antibodies with or without symptomatic AIDS. We have determined beta 2-Microglobulin in 61 subjects: 40 between the ages of 25 and 35 and seemingly healthy, 21 patients between the ages of 22 and 32 and intravenous drug abuser with anti-HIV antibodies and at high-risk for AIDS. In all subjects we have tested: BUN, creatinine, beta 2-Microglobulin and T4/T8 ratio. In 40 subjects as normal controls, beta 2-Microglobulin average was means = 1.07 mg/L (SD = 0.39), T4/T8 ratio average: means = 1.06 (SD = 0.119). In 21 patients drug abuser with anti-HIV antibodies, the beta 2-Microglobulin average was cleanly increased: means = 4.72 mg/L (SD = 2.23), the T4/T8 ratio average cleanly decreased: means = 0.54 (SD = 0.21). We believe the beta 2-Microglobulin quantitation, even if not specific for patient with symptomatic AIDS, used in conjunction with other laboratory tests, principally T4/T8 ratio, will be a useful marker for recognizing persons with possible asymptomatic AIDS who are members of populations known to be at high-risk for AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Analisi Chimico-Cliniche e Microbiologiche, Ospedaliero di Somma Lombardo - USL n. 6 - Gallarate (Varese).
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giardini
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Zanco
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calvano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crovetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Filippo
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin