[Value of the determination of beta-2-microglobulin in the monitoring of myeloma. Apropos of 290 determinations].

The authors first established a correlation between serum 2 microglobulin (beta 2 m) and creatinine (beta 2m) mg/1) = 0.033 X creatinine (mumol/l) + 0.236) in order to be able to calculate the ratio of measured theoretical beta 2 m, as a function of cell production only. Comparison of this ratio with total tumour mass. calculated according to Durie and Salmon, for 290 estimations, gave a very significant correlation (r = 0.31; p less than 0.0001). This correlation was also significant for the 70 estimations made in cases of myelomas with little or no secretion (7 light chain, 1 non-secreting, 1 IgD and 1 IgM) where the estimation is of the greatest importance as an indication of the course.