title: Serum beta-2-microglobulin in African Burkitt tumour, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and controls.
abstract: Serum beta2-microglobulin measurements were made in Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Africans and infectious mononucleosis in Europeans. There was a significant increase of beta2-microglobulin levels in active Burkitt tumour compared to those in remission but young West African children have higher levels than that in Caucasians. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma can be associated with a raised beta2-microglobulin but the distribution is similar to that seen in other head and neck cancers. In 27 cases of infectious mononucleosis 74% have raised levels of serum beta2-microglobulin. The mechanism of production of high serum beta2-microglobulin levels in rural African children is as yet unknown.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin