title: Serum beta 2-microglobulin in malignant lymphoma.
abstract: Serum beta 2-microglobulin (S-beta 2m) was measured at diagnosis in 189 patients with malignant lymphoma, all with a normal serum creatinine clearance. The diagnosis was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in 149 patients and Hodgkin's disease (HD) in 40. Among the NHL group, S-beta 2m was raised (greater than 3.0 mg/l) in 15% of patients with Stage I and II and in 65% of those with Stage III and IV. The corresponding frequencies for HD were 11% and 83% respectively. In NHL, a high pretreatment level of S-beta 2m was found to be a poor prognostic sign in all stages. Patients in Stage I and II with an elevated pretreatment level of S-beta 2m had a higher relapse rate than those with normal S-beta 2m. In Stage III and IV patients with initial levels greater than 3.5 mg/l, the survival was significantly shorter than in those with initial values of less than 3.5 mg/l. A lower mean S-beta 2m value was found in Stage III and IV patients who achieved complete remission than in those who did not. Serial determinations of S-beta 2m in 23 patients with NHL showed that increased pretreatment levels became normal when remission was achieved and increased again in relapse. Thus the S-beta 2m provides valuable prognostic information in this group of patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D013156:Splenectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001609:Beta-Globulins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin