Value of determination of beta 2-microglobulin in toxic nephropathy and interstitial nephritis.
Beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) is a low molecular weight protein of importance in the evaluation of the reabsorptive capacity of the proximal kidney tubule. This is based on the properties of beta 2-m: the daily production is constant and it leaves the body almost exclusively by glomerular filtration; 99.9% of the filtered amount is reabsorbed by the proximal tubule. The urinary excretion of beta 2-m is elevated (greater than 370 micrograms/day) in patients suffering from proximal tubular dysfunction with disturbance of tubular reabsorption. It is of great value as a marker of tubular involvement in toxic nephropathies, interstitial nephritis and the non-invasive method of choice to distinguish between renal and lower urinary tract infections.
D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000506:poisoning; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000652:urine; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000378:metabolism*; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000652:urine; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000652:urine*
D000617:Aminoglycosides; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine