title: Significance of beta 2-microglobulin in liver diseases.
abstract: Serum levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) were found to be significantly elevated in acute viral hepatitis, chronic persistent or active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. beta 2-M values were significantly lower in chronic persistent hepatitis than in the three other groups. Serum beta 2-M was normal in 75 asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg. Steroid therapy was followed by reduction of serum beta 2-M levels in 11 cases of chronic active hepatitis. Variations of beta 2-M were independent from that of transaminases, bilirubin and gamma-globulins.
mesh_terms: D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D011239:Prednisolone