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Establishment of a normal reference value for serum β2 microglobulin in Japanese children: reevaluation of its clinical usefulness

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Abstract

Objective

Serum β2 microglobulin (β2MG) is considered to be a marker of renal function, which is independently associated with age. However, only a few studies have reported the reference values for β2MG in children thus far, particularly in young children. In this study, we evaluated the distribution of serum β2MG values in healthy Japanese children and assessed its clinical usefulness.

Method

The normal reference value of serum β2MG was assessed in serum samples from 1131 normal Japanese children (504 boys and 627 girls; age 0–17 years). To test the validity of the reference value, serum samples from children with various kidney diseases were also examined retrospectively.

Results

The mean values for β2MG were significantly negatively correlated with age (r = −0.47, P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed between the values of boys and girls in any age group. The established β2MG reference range covered 99.7 % of patients with decreased kidney function below 75 % based on their serum creatinine (Cr) value and body length.

Conclusion

The newly established β2MG reference value in children can be used to detect kidney impairment in children. Serum β2MG in combination with serum Cr used as markers for predicting glomerular function can provide an accurate detection of kidney dysfunction in children.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Kidney Foundation, Japan. We thank Midori Awazu, MD, Takashi Sekine, MD, Mayumi Sako, MD, Takuji Yamada, MD, Yuko Akioka, MD, and Hirotsugu Kitayama, MD, of the Committee of Measures for Pediatric CKD for their contributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Japanese Society for Pediatric Nephrology, The Committee of Measures for Pediatric CKD, Tokyo, Japan

    Yohei Ikezumi, Masataka Honda, Takeshi Matsuyama, Kenji Ishikura, Hiroshi Hataya, Nahoko Yata, Takuhito Nagai, Naoya Fujita, Shuichi Ito, Kazumoto Iijima, Tetsuji Kaneko & Osamu Uemura

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan

    Yohei Ikezumi

Authors
  1. Yohei Ikezumi
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  2. Masataka Honda
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  3. Takeshi Matsuyama
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  4. Kenji Ishikura
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  5. Hiroshi Hataya
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  6. Nahoko Yata
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  7. Takuhito Nagai
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  8. Naoya Fujita
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  9. Shuichi Ito
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  10. Kazumoto Iijima
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  11. Tetsuji Kaneko
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  12. Osamu Uemura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yohei Ikezumi.

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Ikezumi, Y., Honda, M., Matsuyama, T. et al. Establishment of a normal reference value for serum β2 microglobulin in Japanese children: reevaluation of its clinical usefulness. Clin Exp Nephrol 17, 99–105 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-012-0658-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-012-0658-7

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