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β‐MICROGLOBULIN SERUM LEVELS IN INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS IN CHILDHOOD
Author(s) -
IBSEN K. KAAS,
KRABBE S.,
HESSE J.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
acta pathologica microbiologica scandinavica section c immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0304-1328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1981.tb02687.x
Subject(s) - mononucleosis , immunology , medicine , antibody , titer , heterophile , disease , virus
A material of fifteen children aged 10 months to 15 years with infectious mononucleosis (IM) was investigated. The diagnosis was established by demonstration of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) specific lgM antibodies. The serum concentrations of β‐microglobulin (β 2 ‐m) were significantly increased (p<0.01) in the first sample after onset of disease, compared to control groups of children with other infectious diseases and children without diseases. The serum concentration of β 2 ‐m decreased towards normal range within 3 weeks‐ 3 months. During the same period, IgM antibodies to EBV decreased to unmeasurable levels, and the IgG titers were almost constant. Serum β 2 ‐m may be a parameter of value in the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis in childhood, replacing tests for heterophile antibodies (Emni test and Paul‐Bunnell test) which are often negative in children suffering from a primary EBV infection, or it may be used for assessment of disease activity.