Beta 2-microglobulin: its significance and clinical usefulness.
beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2M), an interesting and underutilized metabolite, can be used in assessing renal function, particularly in kidney-transplant recipients and in patients suspected of having renal tubulointerstitial disease. It also can serve as a nonspecific but relatively sensitive marker of various neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious conditions. Early hopes that it would be a useful serum test for malignancy have not been fulfilled, but it does have prognostic value for patients with lymphoproliferative disease, particularly multiple myeloma. More recent reports have suggested a role for beta 2M as a prognostic marker in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Division of Clinical Chemistry, North Carolina Memorial Hospital, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin