[The value of salivary beta 2 microglobulin concentration for diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome].

In this paper we measured salivary beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2 m) concentration in 40 patients with Sjögren's syndrome, including 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 12 patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration and 16 patients with single xerostomia, and in 40 normal controls. The results showed that salivary beta 2 m concentration was more significantly elevated in Sjögren's syndrome patients, compared with that in both normals and other patients. The measurement of beta 2 m concentration in saliva may offer a simple and valuable method for diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.