SERUM BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN AT REMISSION AND RELAPSE IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

Serum.beta.-2-microglobulin (S-.beta.2m) was determined before treatment in fifty patients with multiple myeloma (MM), twenty-two of which had pure Bence Jones (BJ) myeloma. S-.beta.12m was related to clinical stage before, but not after, a correction of S-.beta.2m values for co-existent raised S-creatinine values (> 106 .mu.mol l-1). However, S-.beta.2m as well as corrected .beta.2m was a parameter of prognostic value. The median expected survival time was 14 months at S-.beta.2m values > 8.0 mg l-1 and 56 months at values < 3.5 mg l-1. A response to treatment was associated with a decrease of S-.beta.2m and a stationary course with unchanged values, whereas a relapse or progressive disease was connected with an increase. In ''.beta.2m producers'', i.e. patients with a clear initial high S-.beta.12m, serial determinations are of value for monitoring patients with MM. In particular, this is the case in BJ myelomas, as they lack of quantifiable serum M-component. With respect to .beta.2m no difference was found between BJ and other patients with MM.