title: Serum beta 2-microglobulin in patients with trichinosis.
abstract: beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) has been identified as the light chain of the class I major histocompatibility complex proteins, which plays an important role in immune response, especially in T-lymphocytes activation. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum beta 2-m concentration in patients with trichinosis in different phases of this illness. beta 2-m was determined with ELISA in 7 patients twice: in the first week of the hospitalization during acute phase of trichinosis and 21-25 days later, after abatement of clinical signs. It was found that beta 2-m was significantly elevated at the beginning of the illness and decreased, but in the fourth week of the hospitalization it was still high. There was a positive correlation between beta 2-m and absolute count of eosinophils in blood in the first (r = 0.77, p < 0.05) and in the fourth week of hospitalization (r = 0.65, p < 0.05). It is concluded that beta 2-m may have certain importance in the activation of eosinophils and may serve as a marker of immune activation in the course of trichinosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Academy of Białystok.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Czarnowski
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prokopowicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015415:Biomarkers; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D003404:Creatinine