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Serum beta‐2 microglobulin level in sympathetic ophthalmitis
Author(s) -
Sen D. K.,
Sarin G. S.,
Mathur M. D.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1990.tb01904.x
Subject(s) - medicine , uveitis , beta 2 microglobulin , disease , stage (stratigraphy) , sympathetic ophthalmia , sympathetic nervous system , gastroenterology , ophthalmology , blood pressure , paleontology , biology
Serum beta‐2 microglobulin (ß2‐m) levels were measured in 12 patients with sympathetic ophthalmitis, 34 with neglected traumatic uveitis following penetrating injury and 36 healthy subjects by ELISA technique. There was no significant alteration of its level in patients with traumatic uveitis. However, its levels were significantly increased in patients with sympathetic ophthalmitis. They were high even in the early stage of the disease. Serum B2‐m levels paralleled the severity of disease. It decreased significantly at the remission stage. Four patients came back with relapse of the condition and the level of serum B2‐m was again found to be elevated in them. It is proposed that estimation of ß2‐m can be used as a diagnostic aid when the diagnosis of sympathetic ophthalmitis remains doubtful on clinical grounds. It is also suggested that a rise in serum ß2‐m in patients with traumatic uveitis following perforating injuries may point to the onset of sympathetic ophthalmitis. The extent of rise in its level may be considered a good parameter of the degree of severity of sympathetic ophthalmitis. It may also act as a useful tool to evaluate the drug efficacy in this disease and predict relapse.