Detection of electrophoretic heterogeneity of serum beta 2-microglobulin in chronic renal failure.

To determine the metabolic abnormality of serum beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) from patients with chronic renal failure, electrophoretic heterogeneity of beta 2m (novel beta 2m) was examined by analyzing 10 microliters or 50 microliters serum samples on immunoblotting using anti beta 2m serum after two dimensional electrophoresis or by chromatofocusing. Novel beta 2m had a lower molecular weight and a higher acidic isoelectric point. The serum levels of beta 2m might be dependent on the dialysis duration. Changes of conformation or amino acid composition in native beta 2m might occur in patients with chronic renal failure, and these changes may begin prior to the initiation of dialysis.