Abstract
NAKAMURA, S., TAKEZAWA, Y. and MAEDA, T. Serum β2-Microglobulin in Chronic Liver Diseases. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1981, 134 (2), 221-222-Serum β2-microglobulin was determined in 53 patients with chronic liver diseases. No elevation was shown in fatty liver due to obesity or alcoholism. Serum β2-microglobulin was abnormal only in 4% of the patients with chronic hepatitis. Determination of serum β2-microglobulin seems not useful for the differential diagnosis between chronic hepatitis and fatty liver due to obesity or alcoholism. Serum β2-microglobulin was elevated in 29% of the patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, in 41% of those with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and in 75% of those with primary liver carcinoma. The average serum β2-microglobulin concentration was significantly higher in non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis than in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. There was a significant correlation between serum β2-microglobulin and γ-globulin concentrations in liver cirrhosis.
