• Thelma Larocca Skare, Kellen Ferri, and Marcela Aimone Santos.
• Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
• Sao Paulo Med J. 2014 Jan 1; 132 (4): 239242239-42.

Context And ObjectiveSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a cyclical clinical course. Evaluation of the clinical activity of this disease is important for choosing the correct treatment. The objective of this study was to analyze the value of beta-2 microglobulin (β2M) serum levels in determining SLE clinical activity.Design And SettingCross-sectional analytical study conducted at the rheumatology outpatient clinic of a private university hospital.Methods129 SLE patients were studied regarding disease activity using SLEDAI (SLE Disease Activity Index) and cumulative damage using SLICC ACR (SLE International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index for SLE). At the same time, the β2M serum level, ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), anti-dsDNA (anti-double-stranded DNA) and C3 and C4 complement fractions were determined.Resultsβ2M levels correlated positively with SLEDAI (P = 0.02) and ESR (P = 0.0009) and negatively with C3 (P = 0.007). Patients who were positive for anti-dsDNA had higher β2M serum levels (P = 0.009).Conclusionβ2M levels are elevated in SLE patients with active disease.

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