title: Effect of human immunodeficiency virus infection on serum beta2-microglobulin levels in pregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess serum beta2-microglobulin levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and uninfected pregnant women, variations of serum beta2-microglobulin levels during pregnancy and postpartum, factors that might influence beta2-microglobulin levels in pregnant women, and the association between beta2-microglobulin and perinatal HIV-1 transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assayed 374 stored (-70C) serum samples from pregnant women enrolled in the Newark perinatal HIV-1-transmission study and 18 nonpregnant women for beta2-microglobulin using a microparticulate enzyme immunoassay. The Student t test, Wilcoxon rank test, binomial test, and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis, with P < .05 considered statistically significant. A linear regression model was used to assess the effect of independent variables on serum beta2-microglobulin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences (P = .16) in serum beta2-microglobulin levels between pregnant and nonpregnant HIV-negative women (1.07+/-0.35 versus 0.99+/-0.18 mg/L). Beta2-Microglobulin levels did not vary throughout pregnancy and postpartum, irrespective of HIV serostatus. Substance abuse did not alter beta2-microglobulin levels. Human immunodeficiency virus infection caused significant increases of this surrogate marker, but it could not discriminate among disease stages. Beta2-Microglobulin levels at delivery were lower among women who delivered HIV-infected infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human immunodeficiency virus infection was associated with increased serum beta2-microglobulin levels in pregnant women and was the most significant correlate of increases of that marker. Pregnancy and substance use during pregnancy did not influence levels of serum beta2-microglobulin significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103, USA. bardegad@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bardeguez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oleske
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin