Beta - 2 microglobulin concentration as a marker of renal affection in asphyxiated newborns

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum and urinary Beta 2 microglobulin [Beta 2 m] determination as a marker of renal damage following perinatal asphyxia. 24 newborns with severe birth asphyxia were included in the study along with 12 normal newborns who comprised the control group. The results revealed that the mean serum urea [mg/dl] was 72.9 +/- 43.2 in cases and 58.3 +/- 52.9 in controls with no significant difference while the mean serum creatinine [mg/dl] in cases was 1.7 +/- 0.88. This value was significantly higher than the mean value [0.7 +/- 33] in controls. The urinary Beta 2 microglobulin [ng/ml] in the cases was 218.3 +/- 100.9 which was significantly higher than controls [40.8 +/- 35.49]; while the serum Beta 2 microglobulin [ng/ml] in cases [46.16 +/- 22.2] was significantly lower than controls [68.83 +/- 34.3]. There was a negative significant correlation between B2 microglobulin in urine and values of Apgar score. We concluded that inspite of low sensitivity of urinary Beta 2 microglobulin, it can be considered as highly specific simple rapid noninvasive test for early detection of renal damage [mainly tubular affection] in neonates with birth asphyxia