title: [Significance of serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin in dialysis patients].
abstract: beta 2M has been shown to be a major constituent of the amyloid deposits developing in uremic patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis. In this study, serum levels of beta 2M were determined in 67 hemodialysis patients and a mean +/- SD concentration of 57.8 +/- 18.5 mg/L was obtained. There was no difference in the concentration of the substance between the patients with evidence of dialysis-related amyloidosis and those without it. Moreover, no correlation between beta 2M levels and duration of hemodialysis was found. Interestingly, the patients with residual diuresis had a significantly lower mean beta 2M concentration than the anuric patients (35.0 +/- 13.1 vs 62.8 +/- 15.8 mg/L, p less than 0.001). Not surprisingly, a significant decrease in the predialysis serum concentration of the substance was obtained after changing treatment from cuprophan hemodialysis to hemodialysis with high-permeable membranes (delta beta 2M = -16.1 +/- 14.4 mg/L at month 6, p less than 0.01). These results suggest the possible long-term use of these membranes to reduce risk of dialysis-related amyloidosis.
authors: Servizio di Nefrologia e dialisi, Ospedale M. Bufalini, Cesena.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Baldrati
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Baldrati
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Delvecchio
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Capponcini
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Docci
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Turci
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Feletti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin
vernacular_title: Significato dei livelli sierici di beta-2-microglobulina nei pazienti in dialisi.