Serum β2-Microglobulin Correlates Positively with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Long-Term Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background/Aims: β₂-Microglobulin (β₂-MG) is a major protein component of dialysis-related amyloidosis. In long-term hemodialysis (HD) patients, β₂-MG amyloid deposits not only in osteoarticular tissues, but also in systemic tissues, including the heart. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum β₂-MG concentrations and echocardiographic parameters in long-term HD patients in a cross-sectional study. Methods: Measurement of serum β₂-MG concentrations and echocardiography were performed in 251 patients who had undergone HD therapy for more than 10 years. Results: The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) of the higher serum β₂-MG (≥30 mg/l) group was significantly higher than that of the lower serum β₂-MG (<30 mg/l) group (151.5 ± 45.7 vs. 137.0 ± 44.5 g/m², p = 0.020). In simple regression analyses, serum β₂-MG concentrations correlated significantly and positively with interventricular septum thickness (IVST) (r = 0.215, p < 0.001), posterior left ventricular wall thickness (PWT) (r = 0.249, p < 0.001), left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) (r = 0.252, p < 0.001), relative wall thickness (RWT) (r = 0.153, p = 0.015) and LVMI (r = 0.171, p = 0.007). Multiple regression analyses revealed that serum β₂-MG concentrations correlated significantly and positively with IVST, PWT, LVWT and RWT. Conclusion: Serum β₂-MG concentrations correlated significantly and positively with the echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in long-term HD patients. Thus, deposition of β₂-MG amyloid in the heart may be associated with LVH progression.