Quantitation of beta 2-microglobulin and other immune characteristics in a prospective study of men at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Serum samples from 24 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and from 15 patients with an early or milder form of this disease ("suspected AIDS") were found to contain elevated levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M). Therefore, prospective studies of 40 asymptomatic homosexual men from New York City were undertaken to determine whether quantitation of beta 2M and other immunologic variables was useful in recognizing those in populations at high risk for this disease who have a high probability for experiencing symptoms consistent with AIDS. After 20 to 26 months of follow-up, two of those persons now have AIDS and four have suspected AIDS. All six of these persons had elevated serum beta 2M levels and other immunologic abnormalities when they entered this study. Of those tested, only one other man had an increased level of beta 2M; neither he nor any of the remaining 33 persons in this group developed AIDS.