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Serum beta 2‐microglobulin in lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative diseases
Author(s) -
Child J. Anthony,
Kushwaha Muk Ram Singh
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
hematological oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-1069
pISSN - 0278-0232
DOI - 10.1002/hon.2900020409
Subject(s) - beta 2 microglobulin , beta (programming language) , myelofibrosis , lymphoproliferative disorders , polycythaemia , immunology , medicine , macrophage , lymphoma , bone marrow , biology , biochemistry , computer science , in vitro , programming language
The serum levels of beta 2‐microglobulin (β 2 m), which is the light chain moiety of the HLA (‐A, ‐B, ‐C) antigens, are increased in many of the haematological malignancies. In the lymphoproliferative disorders there is generally an association between serum β 2 m and estimates of tumour load. This relationship is especially close in myelomatosis, where serum β 2 m is a powerful prognostic indicator and can be used in stratification and monitoring. Increases in serum β 2 m are also frequent in the myeloproliferative disorders, notably in myelofibrosis, and in the myelodysplastic syndromes; particularly high levels are seen in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. In addition to suggested cellular sources of the β 2 m in these diseases—malignant lymphoid cells and cells of the monocyte‐macrophage series—the possibility that T lymphocyte sub‐sets could be important contributors to the increased β 2 m production is discussed.