Elevated Salivary and Synovial Fluid β 2 -Microglobulin in Sjogren's Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
β 2 -Microglobulin is normally present in low concentrations in serum and other bodily fluids. By use of a radioimmunoassay, elevated concentrations of β 2 -microglobulin were found in saliva and synovial fluid from patients with Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune inflammatory diseases that attack and destroy the salivary glands and articular tissues, respectively. Elevated β 2 -microglobulin concentrations decreased in the saliva of two patients who simultaneously showed a clinical response to systemic treatment. Measurement of β 2 -microglobulin in inflammatory fluids may offer a simple method of quantifying local activity in autoimmune states.