Letter to the Editor

Helicobacter pylori and Beta-2 Microglobulin

Authors: Viroj Wiwanitkit, MD

Abstract

To the Editor:


I read the recent report on Helicobacter pylori (HP) and beta-2 microglobulin with great interest.1 In that article, Dincer et al concluded that “the serum beta-2 microglobulin level cannot be used as a simple marker of HP intensity and severity of inflammation in gastric endoscopic biopsies.” Of interest, a recent publication by Akay et al showed that serum beta-2 accumulated in the majority of gastric tissues of patients with HP-positive gastritis.2 The main question I pose is, what is the exact explanation for this discordance? An important thing to be considered is the non-specific nature of the beta-2 microglobulin parameter in laboratory medicine.3 It can increase in many different conditions. Hence, it is questionable whether there is any occulted disorder that can cause increased serum beta-2 microglobulin in the study by Dincer et al.1

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References

1. Dincer N, Topal F, Karaman K, et al. Relationship of the intensity of Helicobacter pylori and severity of inflammation with beta-2 microglobulin levels in serum according to the updated sydney system. South Med J 2010;103:1092–1096.
 
2. Akay H, Akay A, Köklü S. Serum and tissue beta-2 microglobulin levels in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. Dig Dis Sci 2008;53:358–362.
 
3. Hansen PB, Olsen NV. Beta 2-microglobulin in medical disease. Ugeskr Laeger 1989;151:2960–2962.