β2-Microglobulin Levels in Hepatitis C Virus Infection
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The aim of this study is determine the relation between the beta(2)-microglobulin level and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. 77 haemodialysis (75.0% anti-HCV positive, 25% anti-HCV negative) and 34 control patients (58.8% anti-HCV positive, 41.2% anti-HCV negative) were evaluated in this study. The HCV antibodies were tested by using the enzyme immune assay (EIA) (UBI-HCV 4.0 Organon teknika) and the serum beta(2)-microglobulin levels were also tested by nephelometric assay (Dade Behring). beta(2)-microglobulin levels were measured higher than the normal value in three of 20 positive anti-HCV antibodies patients, and also higher in one of 14 negative anti-HCV antibodies patients. HCV antibodies was found positive in 58 of 77 haemodialysis patients. In this group, beta(2)-microglobulin levels were higher than the normal value in 39 patients. In nine of 19 haemodialysis patients, which have negative HCV antibodies, beta(2)-microglobulin levels were elevated. In patient group, beta(2)-microglobulin levels were elevated 12.4 fold in haemodialysis and 2.7 fold in HCV positivity. Multipl variants were also analyzed. Haemodialysis alone (independent from HCV seropositivity) was increased the level of beta(2)-microglobulin in 11.7 (3.7-36.8) (p<0.05) fold, however, HCV positivity alone (independent from haemodialysis) was increased the level in 2.3 fold (0.9-5.9) and this value was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). As a conclusion, the relation of haemodialysis and beta(2)-microglobulin levels were found statistically significant. In additionaly, the effect of HCV positivity in elevation of beta(2)-microglobulin levels should be investigated in wide series.