Establishment of a normal reference value for serum β2 microglobulin in Japanese children: reevaluation of its clinical usefulness.
OBJECTIVE
Serum β2 microglobulin (β2MG) is considered to be a marker of renal function, which is independently associated with age. However, only a few studies have reported the reference values for β2MG in children thus far, particularly in young children. In this study, we evaluated the distribution of serum β2MG values in healthy Japanese children and assessed its clinical usefulness.


METHODS
The normal reference value of serum β2MG was assessed in serum samples from 1131 normal Japanese children (504 boys and 627 girls; age 0-17 years). To test the validity of the reference value, serum samples from children with various kidney diseases were also examined retrospectively.


RESULTS
The mean values for β2MG were significantly negatively correlated with age (r = -0.47, P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed between the values of boys and girls in any age group. The established β2MG reference range covered 99.7 % of patients with decreased kidney function below 75 % based on their serum creatinine (Cr) value and body length.


CONCLUSIONS
The newly established β2MG reference value in children can be used to detect kidney impairment in children. Serum β2MG in combination with serum Cr used as markers for predicting glomerular function can provide an accurate detection of kidney dysfunction in children.
The Japanese Society for Pediatric Nephrology, The Committee of Measures for Pediatric CKD, Tokyo, Japan. ikezumi@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Yohei
Y
Ikezumi
Masataka
M
Honda
Takeshi
T
Matsuyama
Kenji
K
Ishikura
Hiroshi
H
Hataya
Nahoko
N
Yata
Takuhito
T
Nagai
Naoya
N
Fujita
Shuichi
S
Ito
Kazumoto
K
Iijima
Tetsuji
T
Kaneko
Osamu
O
Uemura
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001827:Body Height; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D003404:Creatinine