title: Reference values of fetal serum β2-microglobulin in the Chinese: evaluation of its clinical usefulness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The level of β2-microglobulin was generally used to evaluate the renal function in adults. Elevated levels of β2-microglobulin were also applied to assess the perinatal situations in neonates and fetuses. The aim of our study was to establish and determine the reference values of fetal serum β2-microglobulin in the Chinese and to assess its clinical benefits in abnormal fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 308 normal cord blood samples were obtained to calculate the normal reference values of fetal serum β2-microglobulin. According to the equations we obtained, we analyzed the level of β2-microglobulin in four case groups: renal malformation, hydrops, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and rubella virus (RV) infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the normal group, the concentration of β2-microglobulin decreased with the gestational age, with a mean value of 4.35±0.59 mg/L. The upper limit of β2-microglobulin was calculated as 7.55-0.074×gestational age in weeks. The levels of β2-microglobulin were significantly higher in the four case groups than the normal group. For the four groups, the sensitivity is 72.7%, 69.6%, 86.7% and 100%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetal serum β2-microglobulin may be used as a predictor to evaluate the situations of fetal diseases.
authors.forename: Suwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Mingqin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin