title: Raised serum beta 2 microglobulin levels in different stages of human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: Serum beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2-M) levels were determined in patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS Related Complex (ARC), Persistent Generalized Lymphadenopathy (PGL), healthy intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) and heterosexual controls. Seventy-eight out of 79 AIDS patients (98.7%) exhibited elevated beta 2-M levels. High levels of beta 2-M were also found in 83 of 100 (83%) of PGL/ARC patients and in 24 of 56 (42.8%) healthy IVDA. Patients with AIDS had significantly higher mean beta 2-M levels when compared with all other groups. The mean levels of PGL/ARC patients were significantly higher than those of healthy IVDA and the mean levels for healthy IVDA significantly differ from those of the heterosexual controls. After 2-24 months of follow up three out of four PGL/ARC patients whose serum beta 2-M was greater than 8.0 mg/l developed AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Disease, Hosp. L.Sacco, University of Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franzetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Foppa
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Amprimo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaido
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzarin
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000097:blood*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin