Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Comparison of the relationship between the serum level of beta 2 microglobulin and the level of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy subjects

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors
Ghasem Sepahi Grov 1
Mahmoud Zardast 2
Gholamreza Sharifzadeh 3
Zeeinab Saremi 4
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
2 Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
4 Associate Professor of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
10.48305/jims.v43.i844.1810
Abstract
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, non-infectious, systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that is associated with structural and tissue destruction around the joints. Early diagnosis of high-risk patients leads to a reduction in mortality and complications of the disease. Some studies have shown that β2M production increases the activity of B and T lymphocytes during lymphoproliferative and autoimmune diseases. Given the limitations of studies conducted in this field, and especially rheumatoid arthritis, the aim of the present study is to compare the serum level of beta-2 microglobulin and the level of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with healthy individuals.
Methods: In this case-control study, 33 patients with RA and 33 individuals without RA were enrolled in the study in 2013. A 5 CC blood sample was taken from the patients to evaluate ESR, CRP, and β2M parameters. The DAS-28 questionnaire was also completed for the patients in the patient group.
Findings: The mean age of the participants in the two study groups, the frequency distribution of gender and the level of education in the control and case groups were not significantly different from each other. The mean serum levels of beta-2 microglobulin, CRP, ESR, the number of involved joints and joint stiffness in the case group were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). The mean serum levels of beta-2 microglobulin had a direct and significant relationship with the serum levels of CRP and ESR (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Serum beta-microglobulin levels are a suitable marker for predicting disease activity and severity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
 
Keywords
Arthritis
Rheumatoid
Rheumatoid Arthritis
beta 2-Microglobulin
B2M protein

Subjects

1.     Esalatmanesh K, Gilasi H, Ziarati A, Azadchehr M, Esalatmanesh R. Long-term prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis disease: A multi centric retrospective cohort study [in Persian]. Feyz Med Sci J 2021; 25(6): 1342-53.
2.     Nelson NL, Churilla JR. Massage therapy for pain and function in patients with arthritis: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2017; 96(9): 665-72.
3.     Jameson JL. Harrison's principles of internal medicine: McGraw-Hill Education; 2018.
4.     Goules AV, Tzioufas AG. Primary Sjӧgren's syndrome: clinical phenotypes, outcome and the development of biomarkers. Autoimmun Rev 2016; 15(7): 695-703.
5.     Ayyoghi guide V, Zareipour MA, gorbanalipour m. Effect of Stress Inoculation Training on Quality of Life of Patients with Rheumatoidarthritis: A Clinical Trial. Iranian Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery 2019; 17(2): 70-7.
6.     Pisetsky DS. Advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: costs and challenges. N C Med J 2017; 78(5): 337-40.
7.     Cramer H, Lauche R, Langhorst J, Dobos G. Yoga for rheumatic diseases: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2013; 52(11): 2025-30.
8.     Challal S, Minichiello E, Boissier M-C, Semerano L. Cachexia and adiposity in rheumatoid arthritis. Relevance for disease management and clinical outcomes. Joint Bone Spine 2016; 83(2): 127-33.
9.     Berghen N, Teuwen L-A, Westhovens R, Verschueren P. Malignancies and anti-TNF therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a single-center observational cohort study. Clin Rheumatol 2015; 34(10): 1687-95.
10.  Nezafat Firizi M, Faramarzi M, Mousavi T, Entezami K, Sharifi A. Role of mesenchymal stem cells-secreted factors in prevention of collagen-induced arthritis in rats [in Persian]. Journal of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences 2015; 7(2): 419-32.
11.  Chung JB, Brudno JN, Borie D, Kochenderfer JN. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy for autoimmune disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24(11): 830-45.
12.  Dinçer ABK, Torgutalp M, Yayla ME, Gülöksüz EGA, Sezer S, Yurteri EU, et al. Serum Levels of Beta-2 Microglobulin in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and its Relationship with Disease Activity: Can it be used as a Disease Activity Marker? Aktuelle Rheumatologie 2021; 46(03): 297-304.
13.  Li L, Dong M, Wang X-G. The implication and significance of beta 2 microglobulin: a conservative multifunctional regulator. Chin Med J (Engl) 2016; 129(4): 448-55.
14.  Leffers H, Hermansen M, Sandholt B, Fuchs A, Sillesen H, Køber L, et al. Plasma levels of β2-microglobulin are associated with atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional cohort study. Lupus 2018; 27(9): 1517-23.
15.  Kim H-A, Jeon J-Y, Yoon J-M, Suh C-H. Beta2-microglobulin can be a disease activity marker in systemic lupus erythematosus. Am J Med Sci 2010; 339(4): 337-40.
16.  Zissis M, Afroudakis A, Galanopoulos G, Palermos I, Boura X, Michopoulos S, et al. B2 microglobulin: is it a reliable marker of activity in inflammatory bowel disease? Am J Gastroenterol 2001; 96(7): 2177-83.
17.  Beckers C, Ribbens C, André B, Marcelis S, Kaye O, Mathy L, et al. Assessment of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis with 18F-FDG PET. J Nucl Med 2004; 45(6): 956-64.
18.  Allam NT, Ali MA, El-Abed DM, Zahran AM. Serum beta2-microglobulin level in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Relation to disease activity. Egyp Rheumatol 2023; 45(1): 55-9.
19.  Tecer D, Büyükşireci D, Günendi Z, Göğüş F. The association of serum beta-2-microglobulin with autoantibody production and disease activity in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Gulhane Med J 2020; 62(4): 72.
20.  Fathy HM, Mohamed RA, Korany MG, Abd-ElAzeem MI. Relation of Serum Beta 2 Microglobulin Levels to Systemic Lupus Disease Manifestations and Disease Activity. Egyp J Hospital Med 2023; 90(2): 3209-14.
21.  Choe J, Park S, Kim S. Urine β2-microglobulin is associated with clinical disease activity and renal involvement in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus. 2014; 23(14): 1486-93.
22.  Żychowska I, Suszek D, Dryglewska M, Majdan M. β2-microglobulin as a marker of systemic lupus erythematosus activity. Adv Clin Exp Med 2018; 27(3): 379-82.
23.  Liu B, Lu F, Lin J, Zou H. Correlations of serum beta 2-microglobulin level with disease activity and renal involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. J Lab Med 2021; 45(1): 13-8.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 43, Issue 844
4th Week, February
January and February 2026
Pages 1810-1815

  • Receive Date 21 May 2025
  • Accept Date 15 May 2026