Beta-2-microglobulin as a marker of extent of disease in non-hodgkin lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Lymphomas are the malignancies of lymphoreticular system. These malignant lymphocytes accumulate either by duplicating faster than normal or they can live longer than normal. Malignant lymphomas represent clonal malignancies in which the majority of the cells are frozen at a single stage of normal differentiation. Two broad types of lymphomas are named as Hodgkin disease and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Serum Beta 2 microblobulin [beta2m] is commonly increased in patients with haemopoietic malignancies and have been shown to be of prognostic value in patients especially with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL]. Serum beta2m level was determined in already diagnosed [n=60] patients of NHL. They were divided into two groups, 30 patients with bone marrow infiltration [group B] and the remaining without infiltration [group C]. The values were compared with 20 healthy age and sex matched controls [group A]. The estimations were made prior to the institution of chemotherapy. beta2m level was significantly raised in NHL patients compared with controls. There was also a significant difference when the values were compared between the patients of NHL with and without bone marrow infiltration. The levels showed positive correlation with the extent of the disease. We conclude that the above mentioned non invasive parameter is a useful indicator of the extent of the disease