BETA-2-MICROGLOBULIN IN CHRONIC MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

Serum beta-2-microglobulin (s beta 2-M) in sixteen patients with chron ic myelogenous leukemia (CML) - 7 women and 9 men aged between 40 and 75 years - to investigate the possible existence of a prognostic facto r for this disease was determined, Patients in the chronic phase were found to have normal levels of beta 2-M which increased during the pro gression of the disease and particularly during the accelerated phase (3.95-5.60 mg/L). The highest levels of beta 2-M were detected at the time of the blastic crisis (5.62-12.60 mg/L). In six patients in the a ccelerated phase who responded to therapy serum levels of beta 2-M dec reased to normal levels. There follows that serum levels of beta 2-M r epresent a reliable marker for CML patients and can be used as a progn ostic factor indicating response to the therapy.