Abstract
In order to determine the β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) generation rate and whole body β2-MG clearance in longterm dialysis patients, we made a single-pool kinetic model consisting of extracellular space having a constant rate of β2-MG generation as well as a rate of β2-MG elimination varying in proportion to the serum β2-MG concentration (whole body clearance × serum concentration).
By analyzing the rebound pattern of serum β2-MG concentration according to the model, we determined the β2-MG generation rate and the whole body β2-MG clearance.
The results showed that the generation rate was virtually the same for all patients and that the higher the patients′ serum β2-MG concentration, the lower the whole body clearance, indicating that the key factor in determining variations in the serum β2-MG concentration is not the generation rate but the whole body clearance.
