Serum levels of β2-microglobulin and lactic dehydrogenase in patients with multiple myeloma and their clinical significance

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of the serum β2-microglobulin (β 2-MG) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.Methods The serum levels of β2-MG and LDH in 63 MM patients (MM group) and 20 healthy person (control group) were measured by biochemical assay.Results The serum levels of β 2-MG and LDH in MM group were higher than those in control group[(3.81 ± 0.62) mg/L vs.(2.43 ± 0.91) mg/L and (296.4 ± 34.7) U/L vs.(145.5 ±17.8) U/L,P ＜ 0.05].Furthermore,the serum levels of β 2-MG and LDH increased gradually with MM clinical staging (P ＜0.05).After VAD chemotherapy,the serum levels of β 2-MG and LDH in clinical response MM patients(54 cases) were significantly decreased [(2.51 ± 1.36) mg/L vs.(3.57 ± 0.82) mg/L and (159.1 ± 35.2) U/L vs.(285.3 ± 87.6) U/L,P ＜ 0.05],while those in no response patients (9 cases)were unchanged (P＞ 0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of β 2-MG and LDH can be taken as a clinical index to classify the clinical phase,prognosis and effectiveness of chemotherapy in MM patients. Key words: Multiple myeloma;  Beta2-microglobulin;  Lactate dehydrogenases;  Drug therapy