CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF BETA(2)-MICROGLOBULIN IN SERUM OF ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA

To clarify the clinical and biological significance of beta(2)microglo bulin (beta(2)-M) in serum of adult T cell leukemia (ATL) associated w ith human lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I), <beta(2)-M was measured in 52 patients with ATL (acute ATL, 35 patients; lymphoma ATL, two pat ients; chronic ATL, 12 patients; smoldering ATL, three patients), and it was compared with serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). Statistical ana lysis disclosed a correlation between beta(2)-M level and the percenta ge of abnormal lymphocytes (P < 0.05) and platelet count (P < 0.01). T here was a correlation between LDH and platelet count (P < 0.01), and a tendency of correlation between LDH and the percentage of abnormal l ymphocytes (P < 0.15). Significant difference was present in beta(2)-M as well as LDH between acute ATL and chronic ATL (P < 0.01), and betw een acute ATL and smoldering ATL (P < 0.01). We also investigated a si gnificant inverse correlation between beta(2)-M level as well as LDH l evel and the length of survival after the initial diagnosis (P < 0.01) . Thus, the beta(2)-M level may indicate the aggressiveness of ATL cel ls and predict the length of survival.