[Beta 2-microglobulin in the blood serum and urine of patients with interstitial kidney lesions].

A study of the level of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) in the blood serum and urine was conducted in 67 patients: 22 with chronic pyelonephritis, 13 with gout with renal lesion, 25 with chronic glomerulonephritis (5 without hyperuricemia, 20 with hyperuricemia) and 7 with amyloidosis accompanied mainly by renal lesion. A raised level of beta 2-microglobulin was found in the patients with chronic pyelonephritis, gout, latent glomerulonephritis with hyperuricemia, and in over half of the cases its raised level was found in the urine. The results obtained indicate a frequent and in some cases predominant involvement of the tubules as well as interstition in the patients with hyperuricemia.