Significance of beta 2-microglobulin in liver diseases.

Serum levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) were found to be significantly elevated in acute viral hepatitis, chronic persistent or active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. beta 2-M values were significantly lower in chronic persistent hepatitis than in the three other groups. Serum beta 2-M was normal in 75 asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg. Steroid therapy was followed by reduction of serum beta 2-M levels in 11 cases of chronic active hepatitis. Variations of beta 2-M were independent from that of transaminases, bilirubin and gamma-globulins.