beta-2 microglobulin in body fluid

Reference interval

(serum)

• serum (mean values)
  • 0.30 mg/dL, age = neonate
  • 0.19 mg/dL, age < 60 years
  • 0.21 mg/dL, age 60-69 years
  • 0.24 mg/dL, age > 70 years
• urine 24 hours = 0.03-0.37 mg/day
• CSF: 1.5 +/-0.2 mg/L

Clinical significance

• patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have anti beta-2 microglobulin
• patients with Felty's syndrome have circulating immune complexes containing beta-2 microglobulin
• monitoring may predict progression of HIV patients to AIDS, leukemia or lymphoma.
• urine values may be useful for assessment of renal clearance if urine is alkalinized to prevent degradation.

Specimen

• serum
  • analyze fresh or store at 4 degrees C or < 72 h
  • stable frozen at -20 degrees C for 6 months, or -70 degrees C indefinitely
• urine 24 hour
  • centrifuge, adjust to pH 7.0, analyze fresh,
  • stable frozen at -20 degrees C for up to 1 year
• CSF
  • centrifuge before analysis
  • analyze fresh or store at 4 degrees C for < 72 hours
  • stable frozen at -20 degrees C for 6 months, or indefinitely at -70 degrees C
  • specimens should NOT contain blood

Interferences

• serum levels increased by
  • cyclosporin
  • lithium
• urine levels increased by
  • carboplatin
  • cisplatin
  • gentamicin
  • nifedipine
  • tobramycin
  • X-ray contrast agents

More general terms

• beta-2 globulin in body fluid

More specific terms

• beta-2 microglobulin in CSF
• beta-2 microglobulin in dialysis fluid
• beta-2 microglobulin in peritoneal fluid
• beta-2 microglobulin in pleural fluid
• beta-2 microglobulin in serum
• beta-2 microglobulin in urine

Additional terms

• beta-2-microglobulin (B2M)