[Radioimmunoassay of beta2-microglobulin in monoclonal gammopathies (author's transl)].

Serum concentration of beta2m were measured by radioimmunoassay in 78 healthy subjects and 80 patients with monoclonal gammopathies. The beta2m levels of normal sera were normally distributed with a mean concentration of 1610 microgram/l. 77% of values were between 1200 and 2000 microgram/l. The serum beta2m levels of patients with monoclonal gammopathies were significantly higher than those of the healthy subjects, but there was no significant difference when comparing the Ig class or the light-chain type. Urinary beta2m excretion of patients with monoclonal gammopathies (3--5400 microgram/l) were slightly higher than normal (15--113 microgram/l). Serum beta2m levels did not correlate with the serum levels of monoclonal immunoglobulins. This supports the hypothesis of the mutual independence of beta2m and Ig production.