Serum Beta-2 microglobulin in Hepatitis B patients

It seems that Beta-2 microglobulin (B2MG), light chain of HLA Class I antigen, is involvedin presentation of the viral antigen of HBV on the hepatocyte and plays a major role in theelimination of the virus. B2MG level in sera of hepatitis B patients increases in comparison tohealthy people.Blood samples were collected from 55 healthy subjects as control group and 49 HbsAg+patients with hepatitis B that 29 patients were HBV DNA-PCR+ and 20 of them were HBVDNA-PCR-.B2MG were analyzed by ELISA method.B2MG level in control group was in normal range, 2.5 mg/ml (Mean= 1.71 mg/ml) , but in17 patients ( 35% ), it was above normal limit (Mean= 3.3mg/ml). This difference wassignificance (p < 0.05). B2MG in HBV DNA-PCR+ positive patients ( Mean= 4.7 mg/ml),was significantly higher than HBV-DNA- PCR- patients,( Mean= 2.15 mg/ml) (p < 0.05).It seems Soluble B2MG is a good marker for HBV replication. The role of B2MG inmonitoring response to therapy needs to be further evaluated.