Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2004, 203(1)

The Role of β₂ Microglobulin Levels in Monitoring Chronic Hepatitis B

SELMA YEGANE, MELEK REVANLI¹ and FATMA TANELI²

Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, ¹Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, International Moris Sinasi Children's Hospital, Manisa, Turkey, and ²Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey

β₂ microglobulin is one of the domains of the histocompatibility class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antigen. In hepatitis infection the presentation of the viral antigen on the hepatocyte in the presence of class I HLA antigens plays a significant role in the elimination of the virus. The aim of the study was to estimate the serum β₂ microglobulin levels in cases of chronic hepatitis B infection. Serum β₂ microglobulin levels were assessed in 65 cases with chronic hepatitis B infection including 29 pediatric and 36 adult patients as the study group and in 30 cases as seronegative control group. β₂ microglobulin level was found significantly higher in chronic active Hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients compared to the asymptomatic HBV carriers and also in the chronic active HBV patients compared to control group. We are of the opinion that β_{2 microglobulin concentration is an indicator for monitoring chronic active HBV infections at the asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carrier patients, thus would lead to early initiation of Interferon (IFN) treatment and to monitor the effectiveness of the therapy.}

keywords —— β₂ microglobulin; chronic active hepatitis B infection: asymptomatic HBV carriers

© 2004 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Address for reprints: Fatma Taneli, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, 45020, Turkey.

e-mail:fatma.taneli@bayar.edu.tr