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High Beta-2 microgloblulin B2M in a blood test

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High Beta-2 microgloblulin B2M in a blood test
Last update: 02/11/2021

What is a high beta-2 microglobulin B2M in a blood test called?

  • Beta-2 microglobulin high

What is the normal beta-2 microglobulin B2M in a blood test?

If you need to know which are the beta-2 microglobulin B2M reference ranges or you require more information about the role of beta-2 microglobulin B2M in the blood, you can visit normal beta-2 microglobulin B2M in a blood test

What does a high beta-2 microglobulin B2M mean?

An increase in beta-2 microglobulin in a blood test is mainly due to a kidney problem or related to a neoplastic disease.

The test is usually performed for the following reasons:

  • As a tumor marker: There is an increase in case of suffering multiple myeloma or other types of cancer (lymphoma, leukemia, etc.).
  • To test renal function: It is increased in diseases related to glomerular damage, for example, in cases of heavy metal exposure and particularly in kidney transplant rejection.

However, there are a lot of diseases and conditions with a high plasma concentration of BMG such as infections (cytomegalovirus, etc.), autoimmune diseases (lupus, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.) or medication intake (antineoplastic, gentamicin, etc.).

  • Severe beta-2 microglobulin B2M increase (> 3 mg/l in adults over 60 years old and > 2.5 mg/l in adults below 60 years old):

    A severe beta-2 microglobulin increase usually require a visit to your doctor. The beta-2 microglobulin blood test is not a routine test. If your doctor has asked for it is because he wants to evaluate a possible cancer or a kidney disease.

    In case of suffering from multiple myeloma, values can reach to 90 o 100 mg/l in the blood. The higher they are, the worse is the prognosis of the disease. If the multiple myeloma is under treatment, the test is helpful to know the progression or remission of the disease. Values below 4 mg/l are a sign of good prognosis, whereas values over 20 mg/l area a sign of bad prognosis.

    However, beta-2 microglobulin blood test in not very specific because B2M level may be increased in many diseases such as infections, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, HIV or different types of cancer. For that reason, your doctor will decide if additional screening tests are necessary.

Which factors can raise the beta-2 microglobulin B2M in a blood test?

There are some health circumstances or drugs than can raise your beta-2 microglobulin level in the blood:

  • Alcohol
  • Physical exercise
  • Kidney transplant rejection
  • Drugs
    • Antibiotics
      • Cefuroxime
      • Gentamicin
    • Antineoplastics
      • Carboplatin
      • Cisplatin
    • Cytokine
      • Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
    • Immunosuppressive drug
      • Ciclosporin
    • Alpha Interferon
    • Contrast agent
      • Diatrizoate

Which diseases can raise your beta-2 microglobulin B2M in a blood test?

The most common diseases why the beta-2 microglobulin B2M may be higher than normal are:

What can I do to lower the beta-2 microglobulin B2M in a blood test?

The best way to lower the beta-2 microglobulin level is to treat the underlying condition that causes it usually a cancer, an autoimmune disease or a kidney disorder.

Some drugs may also alter the beta-2 microglobulin level in the blood. If you are taking any medication, you should visit your doctor to ask him if it may be the cause.

Where can I find more information about beta-2 microglobulin B2M in a blood test?

You can visit our pages about:

Which values are considered a high beta-2 microglobulin B2M in a blood test?

The following values are considered to be above the normal range:

IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in mg/l. They are an example of a healthy adult of about 40 years old with no known disease, not taking any medication and not pregnant if you are a woman. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.

Beta-2 microgloblulin
Severe beta-2 microglobulin increase
2.6 mg/l2.7 mg/l2.8 mg/l2.9 mg/l3 mg/l3.1 mg/l3.2 mg/l3.3 mg/l
3.4 mg/l3.5 mg/l3.6 mg/l3.7 mg/l3.8 mg/l3.9 mg/l4 mg/l4.1 mg/l
4.2 mg/l4.3 mg/l4.4 mg/l4.5 mg/l4.6 mg/l4.7 mg/l4.8 mg/l4.9 mg/l
5 mg/l5.1 mg/l5.2 mg/l5.3 mg/l5.4 mg/l5.5 mg/l5.6 mg/l5.7 mg/l
5.8 mg/l5.9 mg/l6 mg/l6.1 mg/l6.2 mg/l6.3 mg/l6.4 mg/l6.5 mg/l
6.6 mg/l6.7 mg/l6.8 mg/l6.9 mg/l7 mg/l7.1 mg/l7.2 mg/l7.3 mg/l
7.4 mg/l7.5 mg/l7.6 mg/l7.7 mg/l7.8 mg/l7.9 mg/l8 mg/l8.1 mg/l
8.2 mg/l8.3 mg/l8.4 mg/l8.5 mg/l8.6 mg/l8.7 mg/l8.8 mg/l8.9 mg/l
9 mg/l9.1 mg/l9.2 mg/l9.3 mg/l9.4 mg/l9.5 mg/l9.6 mg/l9.7 mg/l
9.8 mg/l9.9 mg/l10 mg/l10.1 mg/l10.2 mg/l10.3 mg/l10.4 mg/l10.5 mg/l
10.6 mg/l10.7 mg/l10.8 mg/l10.9 mg/l11 mg/l11.1 mg/l11.2 mg/l11.3 mg/l
11.4 mg/l11.5 mg/l11.6 mg/l11.7 mg/l11.8 mg/l11.9 mg/l12 mg/l12.1 mg/l
12.2 mg/l12.3 mg/l12.4 mg/l12.5 mg/l12.6 mg/l12.7 mg/l12.8 mg/l12.9 mg/l
13 mg/l13.1 mg/l13.2 mg/l13.3 mg/l13.4 mg/l13.5 mg/l13.6 mg/l13.7 mg/l
13.8 mg/l13.9 mg/l14 mg/l14.1 mg/l14.2 mg/l14.3 mg/l14.4 mg/l14.5 mg/l
14.6 mg/l14.7 mg/l14.8 mg/l14.9 mg/l15 mg/l15.1 mg/l15.2 mg/l15.3 mg/l
15.4 mg/l15.5 mg/l15.6 mg/l15.7 mg/l15.8 mg/l15.9 mg/l16 mg/l16.1 mg/l
16.2 mg/l16.3 mg/l16.4 mg/l16.5 mg/l16.6 mg/l16.7 mg/l16.8 mg/l16.9 mg/l
17 mg/l17.1 mg/l17.2 mg/l17.3 mg/l17.4 mg/l17.5 mg/l17.6 mg/l17.7 mg/l
17.8 mg/l17.9 mg/l18 mg/l18.1 mg/l18.2 mg/l18.3 mg/l18.4 mg/l18.5 mg/l
18.6 mg/l18.7 mg/l18.8 mg/l18.9 mg/l19 mg/l19.1 mg/l19.2 mg/l19.3 mg/l
19.4 mg/l19.5 mg/l19.6 mg/l19.7 mg/l19.8 mg/l19.9 mg/l20 mg/l20.1 mg/l
20.2 mg/l20.3 mg/l20.4 mg/l20.5 mg/l20.6 mg/l20.7 mg/l20.8 mg/l20.9 mg/l
21 mg/l21.1 mg/l21.2 mg/l21.3 mg/l21.4 mg/l21.5 mg/l21.6 mg/l21.7 mg/l
21.8 mg/l21.9 mg/l22 mg/l22.1 mg/l22.2 mg/l22.3 mg/l22.4 mg/l22.5 mg/l
22.6 mg/l22.7 mg/l22.8 mg/l22.9 mg/l23 mg/l23.1 mg/l23.2 mg/l23.3 mg/l
23.4 mg/l23.5 mg/l23.6 mg/l23.7 mg/l23.8 mg/l23.9 mg/l24 mg/l24.1 mg/l
24.2 mg/l24.3 mg/l24.4 mg/l24.5 mg/l24.6 mg/l24.7 mg/l24.8 mg/l24.9 mg/l
25 mg/l25.1 mg/l25.2 mg/l25.3 mg/l25.4 mg/l25.5 mg/l25.6 mg/l25.7 mg/l
25.8 mg/l25.9 mg/l26 mg/l26.1 mg/l26.2 mg/l26.3 mg/l26.4 mg/l26.5 mg/l
26.6 mg/l26.7 mg/l26.8 mg/l26.9 mg/l27 mg/l27.1 mg/l27.2 mg/l27.3 mg/l
27.4 mg/l27.5 mg/l27.6 mg/l27.7 mg/l27.8 mg/l27.9 mg/l28 mg/l28.1 mg/l
28.2 mg/l28.3 mg/l28.4 mg/l28.5 mg/l28.6 mg/l28.7 mg/l28.8 mg/l28.9 mg/l
29 mg/l29.1 mg/l29.2 mg/l29.3 mg/l29.4 mg/l29.5 mg/l29.6 mg/l29.7 mg/l
29.8 mg/l29.9 mg/l30 mg/l30.1 mg/l30.2 mg/l30.3 mg/l30.4 mg/l30.5 mg/l
30.6 mg/l30.7 mg/l30.8 mg/l30.9 mg/l31 mg/l31.1 mg/l31.2 mg/l31.3 mg/l
31.4 mg/l31.5 mg/l31.6 mg/l31.7 mg/l31.8 mg/l31.9 mg/l32 mg/l32.1 mg/l
32.2 mg/l32.3 mg/l32.4 mg/l32.5 mg/l32.6 mg/l32.7 mg/l32.8 mg/l32.9 mg/l
33 mg/l33.1 mg/l33.2 mg/l33.3 mg/l33.4 mg/l33.5 mg/l33.6 mg/l33.7 mg/l
33.8 mg/l33.9 mg/l34 mg/l34.1 mg/l34.2 mg/l34.3 mg/l34.4 mg/l34.5 mg/l
34.6 mg/l34.7 mg/l34.8 mg/l34.9 mg/l35 mg/l35.1 mg/l35.2 mg/l35.3 mg/l
35.4 mg/l35.5 mg/l35.6 mg/l35.7 mg/l35.8 mg/l35.9 mg/l36 mg/l36.1 mg/l
36.2 mg/l36.3 mg/l36.4 mg/l36.5 mg/l36.6 mg/l36.7 mg/l36.8 mg/l36.9 mg/l
37 mg/l37.1 mg/l37.2 mg/l37.3 mg/l37.4 mg/l37.5 mg/l37.6 mg/l37.7 mg/l
37.8 mg/l37.9 mg/l38 mg/l38.1 mg/l38.2 mg/l38.3 mg/l38.4 mg/l38.5 mg/l
38.6 mg/l38.7 mg/l38.8 mg/l38.9 mg/l39 mg/l39.1 mg/l39.2 mg/l39.3 mg/l
39.4 mg/l39.5 mg/l39.6 mg/l39.7 mg/l39.8 mg/l39.9 mg/l40 mg/l40.1 mg/l
40.2 mg/l40.3 mg/l40.4 mg/l40.5 mg/l40.6 mg/l40.7 mg/l40.8 mg/l40.9 mg/l
41 mg/l41.1 mg/l41.2 mg/l41.3 mg/l41.4 mg/l41.5 mg/l41.6 mg/l41.7 mg/l
41.8 mg/l41.9 mg/l42 mg/l42.1 mg/l42.2 mg/l42.3 mg/l42.4 mg/l42.5 mg/l
42.6 mg/l42.7 mg/l42.8 mg/l42.9 mg/l43 mg/l43.1 mg/l43.2 mg/l43.3 mg/l
43.4 mg/l43.5 mg/l43.6 mg/l43.7 mg/l43.8 mg/l43.9 mg/l44 mg/l44.1 mg/l
44.2 mg/l44.3 mg/l44.4 mg/l44.5 mg/l44.6 mg/l44.7 mg/l44.8 mg/l44.9 mg/l
45 mg/l45.1 mg/l45.2 mg/l45.3 mg/l45.4 mg/l45.5 mg/l45.6 mg/l45.7 mg/l
45.8 mg/l45.9 mg/l46 mg/l46.1 mg/l46.2 mg/l46.3 mg/l46.4 mg/l46.5 mg/l
46.6 mg/l46.7 mg/l46.8 mg/l46.9 mg/l47 mg/l47.1 mg/l47.2 mg/l47.3 mg/l
47.4 mg/l47.5 mg/l47.6 mg/l47.7 mg/l47.8 mg/l47.9 mg/l48 mg/l48.1 mg/l
48.2 mg/l48.3 mg/l48.4 mg/l48.5 mg/l48.6 mg/l48.7 mg/l48.8 mg/l48.9 mg/l
49 mg/l49.1 mg/l49.2 mg/l49.3 mg/l49.4 mg/l49.5 mg/l49.6 mg/l49.7 mg/l
49.8 mg/l49.9 mg/l50 mg/l50.1 mg/l50.2 mg/l50.3 mg/l50.4 mg/l50.5 mg/l
50.6 mg/l50.7 mg/l50.8 mg/l50.9 mg/l51 mg/l51.1 mg/l51.2 mg/l51.3 mg/l
51.4 mg/l51.5 mg/l51.6 mg/l51.7 mg/l51.8 mg/l51.9 mg/l52 mg/l52.1 mg/l
52.2 mg/l52.3 mg/l52.4 mg/l52.5 mg/l52.6 mg/l52.7 mg/l52.8 mg/l52.9 mg/l
53 mg/l53.1 mg/l53.2 mg/l53.3 mg/l53.4 mg/l53.5 mg/l53.6 mg/l53.7 mg/l
53.8 mg/l53.9 mg/l54 mg/l54.1 mg/l54.2 mg/l54.3 mg/l54.4 mg/l54.5 mg/l
54.6 mg/l54.7 mg/l54.8 mg/l54.9 mg/l55 mg/l55.1 mg/l55.2 mg/l55.3 mg/l
55.4 mg/l55.5 mg/l55.6 mg/l55.7 mg/l55.8 mg/l55.9 mg/l56 mg/l56.1 mg/l
56.2 mg/l56.3 mg/l56.4 mg/l56.5 mg/l56.6 mg/l56.7 mg/l56.8 mg/l56.9 mg/l
Medically reviewed by our Medical staff on 02/11/2021

Bibliography

  • Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations. 2nd Edition. 2015. Ramnik Sood. ISBN: 978-93-5152-333-8. Pag. 717.
  • Laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures : with nursing diagnoses. Jane Vincent Corbett, Angela Denise Banks. 8th ed. 2013. ISBN: 978-0-13-237332-6. Pag. 247.
  • Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry. Carl A. Burtis, Edward R. Ashwood, David E. Bruns. 2008. ISBN: ISBN: 978-0-7216-3865-2 Pag 299.

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