968
3. Cohen AS: A practical guide to special tests and diagnostic procedures in arthritis, The Arthritis Handbook: A Problem-Solving Approach to Arthritis Management. Chapter 2. Edited by JL Hollander. Rahway, New Jersey, Merck Sharp and Dohme, 1975, p 47 4. Cracchiolo A: Joint fluid analysis. Am Fam Physician 4:87-94. I97 1 5 . Smyth CJ: Diagnosis and treatment of gout, Arthritis and Allied Conditions. Edited by J L Hollander, DJ McCarty. Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1972, p 1 1 12 6. Owen DS Jr, Cooke CL, Toone E: Practical synovial fluid examination. Va Med Mon 97:88-94, 1970 7. Schumacher JR: lntracellular crystals in synovial fluid anticoagulated with oxalate. N Engl J Med 274:1372-1373, I966 8. Hollander JL, Reginato A, Torralba TP: Examination of synovial fluid as a diagnostic aid in arthritis. Med Clin North Am 50:1281-1293, 1966 9. Gambino SR: Water, electrolytes, acid-base and oxygen, Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods. Edited by I Davidsohn, JB Henry. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1974, p 645 KONCSAKTANPHAICHITR, M.D. ISAIASSPILBERG,M.D. BEVRAH. HAHN,M . D . Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Serum ,B2-Microglobulin and SLE To the Editor: P2-microglobulin serum level elevations above normal have been found to b e the result of impairment of glomerular filtration rate ( G F R ) (1). M o r e recently they were reported t o be increased in autoimmune disorders, such as Sjiigren’s syndrome a n d rheumatoid arthritis, especially when associated with lymphoproliferation. This increase was interpreted to be a consequence of excessive benign or malignant proliferation of lymphocytes (2). W e have investigated P2-microglobulin serum levels (Pharmacia Phadebas Kit) in 29 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with or without renal involvement. Kidney function was assessed by urinanalysis (microhematuria, proteinuria) and by G F R determination (endogenous creatinine clearance and/or Y r - E D T A clearance). Kidney biopsy for histologic assessment and direct immunofluorescence were performed in all patients who showed pathologic results a n d in 3 patients for other reasons of differential diagnosis.
Table 1
BZ-microDiagnosis
SLE nephritis SLE without renal involvement Control
N
Age
globulin (rg/ml serum)
10
41 f 15
6.56f 3.5
CO.001
19 9
38 f 16 38 f 16
2.81 f 1.3
3. Cohen AS: A practical guide to special tests and diagnostic procedures in arthritis, The Arthritis Handbook: A Problem-Solving Approach to Arthritis Management. Chapter 2. Edited by JL Hollander. Rahway, New Jersey, Merck Sharp and Dohme, 1975, p 47 4. Cracchiolo A: Joint fluid analysis. Am Fam Physician 4:87-94. I97 1 5 . Smyth CJ: Diagnosis and treatment of gout, Arthritis and Allied Conditions. Edited by J L Hollander, DJ McCarty. Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1972, p 1 1 12 6. Owen DS Jr, Cooke CL, Toone E: Practical synovial fluid examination. Va Med Mon 97:88-94, 1970 7. Schumacher JR: lntracellular crystals in synovial fluid anticoagulated with oxalate. N Engl J Med 274:1372-1373, I966 8. Hollander JL, Reginato A, Torralba TP: Examination of synovial fluid as a diagnostic aid in arthritis. Med Clin North Am 50:1281-1293, 1966 9. Gambino SR: Water, electrolytes, acid-base and oxygen, Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods. Edited by I Davidsohn, JB Henry. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1974, p 645 KONCSAKTANPHAICHITR, M.D. ISAIASSPILBERG,M.D. BEVRAH. HAHN,M . D . Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, Missouri 63110
Serum ,B2-Microglobulin and SLE To the Editor: P2-microglobulin serum level elevations above normal have been found to b e the result of impairment of glomerular filtration rate ( G F R ) (1). M o r e recently they were reported t o be increased in autoimmune disorders, such as Sjiigren’s syndrome a n d rheumatoid arthritis, especially when associated with lymphoproliferation. This increase was interpreted to be a consequence of excessive benign or malignant proliferation of lymphocytes (2). W e have investigated P2-microglobulin serum levels (Pharmacia Phadebas Kit) in 29 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with or without renal involvement. Kidney function was assessed by urinanalysis (microhematuria, proteinuria) and by G F R determination (endogenous creatinine clearance and/or Y r - E D T A clearance). Kidney biopsy for histologic assessment and direct immunofluorescence were performed in all patients who showed pathologic results a n d in 3 patients for other reasons of differential diagnosis.
Table 1
BZ-microDiagnosis
SLE nephritis SLE without renal involvement Control
N
Age
globulin (rg/ml serum)
10
41 f 15
6.56f 3.5
CO.001
19 9
38 f 16 38 f 16
2.81 f 1.3
