title: Serum beta 2-microglobulin in chronic diseases of the pancreas.
abstract: Elevated serum concentrations of beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2-MG) has been reported in a variety of chronic diseases and solid tumors. We determined serum beta 2-MG concentrations in 140 subjects divided into five groups: group 1, 34 patients with proven chronic pancreatitis, 8 of whom were studied during a painful relapse; group 2, 40 patients with pancreatic cancer staged according to the Cubilla-Fitzgerald classification; group 3, 40 healthy subjects; group 4, 10 patients with digestive nonpancreatic carcinomas; group 5, 16 patients with benign digestive nonpancreatic diseases. Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) was also determined in all patients with pancreatic diseases as an index of immune system activation. In addition, serum CA 19-9 was assayed in patients of groups 2 and 4, and C-reactive protein (CRP) of groups 1 and 5. Renal function, evaluated by serum creatinine determination, was normal in all subjects studied. Patients with pancreatic cancer and those with chronic pancreatitis had serum concentrations of beta 2-MG significantly higher than those of healthy subjects (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005, respectively). Patients with stage I and stage III pancreatic cancer had similar serum levels of beta 2-MG, and these concentrations were significantly lower than those of patients with stage II tumors (p < 0.002 and p < 0.05, respectively). In chronic pancreatitis patients, those studied during painful relapse of the disease had serum concentrations of beta 2-MG similar to those studied during clinical remission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Centralizzato, Ospedale S. Orsola-M. Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pezzilli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Billi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiocchi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beltrandi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sprovieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miglioli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin