I was looking at my test results and noticed that occasionally my oncologist has tested for beta 2 microglobulin. Twice before my stem cell transplant (SCT), and once about a year after my SCT. The last time I was tested was Oct 30, 2013, and my beta 2 microglobulin were 4.5
I looked it up online. Probably shouldn't have, because Wikipedia says that beta 2 macroglobulin over 4 generally means prognosis of 12 months. If you do the math, you see that I have lived 16 months after the beta 2 macroglobulin reading I mentioned.
I will ask my doctor at my next appointment March 23, but does anyone know about this?
Thank you.
Cathy
Forums
8 posts
• Page 1 of 1
-
antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Beta 2 microglobulin
Hi Cathy,
When I read your post, I see that you have mentioned both beta microglobulin and beta macroglobulin tests. On my test results, they are just posted as 'Beta Globulin', not micro or macro. However, the normal range on mine are 3.0 - 6.0. This could be different than your normal ranges, though. Do you have the normal ranges posted for the 'macro' and 'micro' values?
It would be interesting to learn more about these tests and how they are evaluated, though. I hope that your tests do not indicate a serious problem, and I think it isn't possible to predict outcomes from one test.
When I read your post, I see that you have mentioned both beta microglobulin and beta macroglobulin tests. On my test results, they are just posted as 'Beta Globulin', not micro or macro. However, the normal range on mine are 3.0 - 6.0. This could be different than your normal ranges, though. Do you have the normal ranges posted for the 'macro' and 'micro' values?
It would be interesting to learn more about these tests and how they are evaluated, though. I hope that your tests do not indicate a serious problem, and I think it isn't possible to predict outcomes from one test.
-
Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Beta 2 microglobulin
Hi again Cathy!
I was looking thru some lab results and see that there is another test for 'Beta-2 Microglobulin' that I have had. The normal range for that was 1.00 - 2.00, but, since I am Canadian, it could be that in your results the normal range would be 1/10th of that.
Sorry, it's confusing, and probably someone else can chime in on this for you.
I was looking thru some lab results and see that there is another test for 'Beta-2 Microglobulin' that I have had. The normal range for that was 1.00 - 2.00, but, since I am Canadian, it could be that in your results the normal range would be 1/10th of that.
Sorry, it's confusing, and probably someone else can chime in on this for you.
-
Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Beta 2 microglobulin
Hi Cathy and Nancy,
There is a difference between beta 2 microglobulin and beta globulin. Beacon Medical Advisor Dr. Adam Cohen of the University of Pennsylvania did a nice job explaining the difference in this forum posting. Here is what he wrote:
Dr. Cohen also mentioned in a separate forum posting that "Beta-2 microglobulin can be elevated in myeloma but is non-specific, and can be high when there is any perturbation in the immune system, e.g. autoimmune disease, infection, etc. In myeloma, it's really only useful at the time of diagnosis, where it provides prognostic information. After treatment, it's not really helpful for measuring response ..."
Finally, just to round things out, Beacon Medical Advisor Dr. Edward Libby of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center noted in this forum posting that "Beta-2 microglobulin is affected by kidney function ..."
Hope this helps clarify things a bit.
There is a difference between beta 2 microglobulin and beta globulin. Beacon Medical Advisor Dr. Adam Cohen of the University of Pennsylvania did a nice job explaining the difference in this forum posting. Here is what he wrote:
The beta globulin is one of the values reported from a test called protein electrophoresis, which can be run on the blood (called serum protein electrophoresis - SPEP) or the urine (UPEP). The SPEP and UPEP are used to measure the level of the myeloma protein (called M-spike or M-protein) in blood and urine, respectively. They look at all the proteins in the blood or urine and divide them up into different components (albumin, alpha-1-globulins, alpha-2-globulins, beta globulins, gamma globulins) based on their characteristics. The levels of the individual components are not that important - what's important is if an M-spike is found and what that level is.
Sometimes a clear M-spike can't be seen or measured from the SPEP or UPEP. In that case we often use other tests such as the serum free light chains or immunoglobulin levels (e.g. IgG or IgA level) to measure the amount of myeloma protein present. I would suggest asking her oncologist what her M-spike is as well as what her IgG level is.
The beta-2-microglobulin is a completely different test run on the blood. It isn't a direct measure of the myeloma protein but gives some prognostic information and is part of the new International Staging System (ISS) for myeloma. If the beta-2-microglobulin is above 5.5 that indicates ISS stage 3 disease (the highest stage), and is suggestive of a somewhat more aggressive course.
Dr. Cohen also mentioned in a separate forum posting that "Beta-2 microglobulin can be elevated in myeloma but is non-specific, and can be high when there is any perturbation in the immune system, e.g. autoimmune disease, infection, etc. In myeloma, it's really only useful at the time of diagnosis, where it provides prognostic information. After treatment, it's not really helpful for measuring response ..."
Finally, just to round things out, Beacon Medical Advisor Dr. Edward Libby of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center noted in this forum posting that "Beta-2 microglobulin is affected by kidney function ..."
Hope this helps clarify things a bit.
Re: Beta 2 microglobulin
Thanks Beacon staff, l appreciate you posting the information about the differing blood tests, beta 2 micro globulin and beta globulin!
-
Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Beta 2 microglobulin
Hello Cathy,
In general, there is no reason to get the beta-2 microglobulin test after the initial diagnosis of multiple myeloma is made. The only time it has significant value is at diagnosis to determine the patient's stage. As you may know, the International Staging System for myeloma (ISS) uses two blood measurements – the albumin level, and the beta-2 microglobulin level – to determine a patient's stage at diagnosis.
After determining a patient's stage at diagnosis, the beta-2 microglobulin is really not very useful. I generally do not repeat it after making the initial diagnosis of myeloma. Some research studies may require it, and many physicians do obtain it, but, from my perspective, the really useful tests that tell us how a patient's myeloma is doing are your SPEP, serum free light chains, and UPEP.
Great question. Thank you for contacting the Beacon with it!
In general, there is no reason to get the beta-2 microglobulin test after the initial diagnosis of multiple myeloma is made. The only time it has significant value is at diagnosis to determine the patient's stage. As you may know, the International Staging System for myeloma (ISS) uses two blood measurements – the albumin level, and the beta-2 microglobulin level – to determine a patient's stage at diagnosis.
After determining a patient's stage at diagnosis, the beta-2 microglobulin is really not very useful. I generally do not repeat it after making the initial diagnosis of myeloma. Some research studies may require it, and many physicians do obtain it, but, from my perspective, the really useful tests that tell us how a patient's myeloma is doing are your SPEP, serum free light chains, and UPEP.
Great question. Thank you for contacting the Beacon with it!
-
Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Beta 2 microglobulin
Thank you so much for your reply Dr Libby and Staff and Nancy.
I keep getting interrupted when I am trying to reply.
I will reply as soon as I can but was encouraged by your response.
I keep getting interrupted when I am trying to reply.
I will reply as soon as I can but was encouraged by your response.
-
antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Beta 2 microglobulin
I was diagnosed May 31, 2012. After I had been doing thalidomide, dexamethasone, and Velcade for roughly 3 months, they did my first beta 2 microglobulin test. On August 16, 2012, it was 8.46 mg/L. My oncologist had already told me I was stage 3, partly because of the kidney damage from light chain deposition disease.
Interesting that they do not typically test for beta 2 microglobulin after the initial staging.
I had a stem cell transplant November 17, 2012.
Thank you for your help,
Cathy
Interesting that they do not typically test for beta 2 microglobulin after the initial staging.
I had a stem cell transplant November 17, 2012.
Thank you for your help,
Cathy
-
antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
8 posts
• Page 1 of 1