ELEVATED SERUM BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN LEVELS AND C1Q-BINDING IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN SARCOIDOSIS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (7) , 210-213
Abstract
Serum .beta.2 microglobulin levels were significantly higher (3.05 .+-. 0.98 mg/l) in 32 sarcoidosis patients without renal dysfunction than in normal controls (1.54 .+-. 0.22 mg/l). Low levels of C1q[q fragment of complement component 1]-binding immune complexes were detected in 70% of patients'' sera, despite the absence of extra-thoracic manifestations. C-reactive protein was detected in 55% of sarcoidosis sera. Neither C1q-binding immune complexes nor C-reactive protein were correlated with .beta.2 microglobulin levels. .beta.2 Microglobulin rose during relapses and fell under efficient corticosteroid treatment. .beta.2 Microglobulin would represent a possible biological marker of disease activity.