[Renal function in chronic cor pulmonale monitored with beta 2-microglobulin].

ABSTRACT

Serum and urine levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) were measured with radioimmune assay in 40 chronic cor pulmonale patients (52 episodes) and 26 normal controls. The results showed that the serum and urine levels of beta 2-MG were 2.01 +/- 0.47 mg/L and 0.10 +/- 0.08 mg/L respectively, in the normal controls, while in the cor pulmonale group 3.86 +/- 1.58 mg/L and 0.66 +/- 0.34 mg/L respectively, with statistical significance (P less than 0.001, less than 0.005). It was shown that there was a positive correlation between the levels of serum and urine beta 2-MG and PaCO2 and a negative correlation between the levels of serum and urine beta 2-MG and PaO2. The results indicated that determination of serum and urine beta 2-MG could be used in the early detection of the renal impairment in chronic cor pulmonale. The predisposing factors of renal dysfunction in cor pulmonale were also discussed.