[Beta-2 microglobulin in cerebrospinal fluid in neurology].
OBJECTIVE
beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) is a small molecular weight protein (11 800 Daltons) which can transudate into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the same manner than albumin. Intrathecal synthesis is a sign of local immuno-stimulation and is correlated with immunoglobulin G. The aim of this study was to ascertain the relationship between beta 2-microglobulin levels in the CSF and neurological diseases.


METHODS
beta 2-microglobulin was assayed in the CSF and blood using an immunoenzyme method in 64 patients with multiple sclerosis (n = 14), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (n = 5), meningitis (n = 12) or a peripheral neurological disease (n = 10) and in 7 control subjects.


RESULTS
There was no overall correlation between beta 2-m in the CSF and blood levels (r = 0.35). In controls, beta 2-m CSF and blood levels were respectively 0.94 +/- 0.22 and 1.46 +/- 0.83 mg/l. beta 2-m was significantly higher in the CSF of patients with meningitis and in the HIV positive patients (4 +/- 3.5 and 3.69 +/- 2.06 mg/l respectively) (p < 0.05). Type of meningitis (bacterial or non-bacterial) had no effect on the CSF level. For the HIV patients, the CSF/blood ratio for beta 2-m was similar to that in controls due to a rise in both blood and CSF. Finally, in patients with multiple sclerosis, there was no significant change in CSF level of beta 2-m.


CONCLUSIONS
beta 2-microglobulin in cerebrospinal fluid was not found to be correlated with the neurological diseases studied and cannot be used as a diagnostic test.
Beyne
P
P
Service de Biochimie, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy.
Lisovoski
F
F
Got
L
L
Ayache
P
P
Delacoux
E
E
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012016:Reference Values; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin
La beta 2-microglobuline du liquide céphalorachidien en neurologie.