Serum β2-microglobulin levels in primary biliary cirrhosis

✍ Scribed by Anders Nyberg; Lars Lööf; Roger Hällgren

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1985
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 467 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0270-9139
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840050222

✦ Synopsis

Serum &-microglobulin (&p) was determined in 44 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and in 63 patients with other liver disorders. Bzp levels were elevated in PBC when compared with chronic persistent hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and noncirrhotic alcohol liver disease, but not in comparison with chronic active hepatitis and alcoholic liver cirrhosis. With the exception of chronic persistent hepatitis, all liver disorders had significantly increased serum concentrations of D2p when compared with controls. A significant correlation between Bzp and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.001) and BZp and serum IgG (p < 0.06) was found in PBC. No significant difference in Bzp levels was noted when PBC patients with early and late histopathological changes were compared. D-penicillamine treatment significantly (p < 0.01) but transiently reduced Bzp levels in PBC; this may reflect the presumed immunosuppressive action of this drug.