Effect of dialyzer membranes on beta-2 microglobulin production in Thai hemodialysis patients.

Responses to different types of dialyzer membranes in an Asian population may differ from those of a Caucasian population. Comparative studies on the effects of different dialyzer membranes on beta-2 microglobulin production are also limited. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the effects of different dialyzer membranes on in vitro mononuclear cell production of beta-2 microglobulin in 9 Thai hemodialysis patients. Each patient was dialysed with 4 different types of dialyzer, including cuprophane (CUP), cellulose diacetate (CD), polysulphone (PS), and polyacrylonitrile membrane (PAN), each for a 1-month period in a randomized sequence. Mononuclear cell culture was done by taking an immediate post-dialysis blood sample at the end of the 1-month period. Beta-2 microglobulin production from cell culture was determined 24 hours later. Mononuclear cell culture and determination of beta-2 microglobulin production from the culture were also done in 10 normal controls and 10 predialysis ESRD patients. The beta-2 microglobulin productions (microgram/L) were shown as follows; Control CUP CD PS PAN [table: see text] (*p < 0.05 compared to cuprophane membrane). Conclusion: polysulphone and polyacrylonitrile membrane induced significantly less beta-2 microglobulin production compared to cuprophane and slightly less compared to cellulose diacetate membrane.

Beta 2 microglobulina en algunas neoplasias hematológicas / Beta 2 microglobulin in hematologic neoplasias

Beta 2 microglobulin is alow molecular weight protein integrating the light chain HLA antigens Its serum concentration is increased in different neiplasias and in renal failure. Using solid phase Ria we determined the concentration of beta 2 microglobulin in plasma and spinal fluid of 57 healthy individuals and patients with hematologic neoplasia. Serum levels were 1.34 ñ 0.34 mg/l and spinal fluid levels were 1.3 ñ 0.7 mg/l in healthy subjects. Serum levels in 29 patients with myeloma was 7.51 mg/l, significantly highy in those with renal failure (12.35 mg/l) compared to those without (4.54). In 30 patients with non- Hodgkin lymphoma the mean serum levels were 2.90 mg/l, significantly greater in those with active disease (3.18) than in those with remission (1.5). No diference was founde according to the degree of malignancy. Patients with acute lymphatic leukemia had elevated values of beta 2 microglobulin while the disease eas active (3.37 mg/l), decreasing to normal levels after remission 91.79 mg/l). Spinal fluid levels of beta 2 microglobulin were elevated onfly in patients with central nervous system involvement. our results indicate that serunm levels of beta 2 microglobulin are helpful in patients with hematologic neoplasia in assessing the activity of the disease and tumor mass, especially in multiple myeloma