[The significance of beta 2-microglobulin in diagnosis and therapy]

This article describes the significance of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) determination both in urine and serum for the estimation of proximal renal tubular function and glomerular filtration rate. The usefulness of beta 2m in therapy, cancer diagnosing, epidemiologic investigations of industrial exposure to cadmium, lead, mercury and in evaluating etiologic factors of environmental nephropathies was also discussed.