Relationship of β2-microglobulin to arterial stiffness in Japanese subjects

b(2)-Microglobulin (beta 2m) is related to inflammatory diseases, but there have been few reports of a relationship between beta 2m and atherosclerosis. We have examined the influence of beta 2m on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) to clarify whether it is related to arterial stiffness. baPWV, beta 2m, C-reactive protein (CRP), and conventional risk factors were measured in 614 males and 158 females. The adjusted means of baPWV were compared with the quartiles of beta 2m, and significant differences in baPWV were observed across the quartiles of beta 2m (p=0.037). After being adjusted for potential confounders, quartile 4 of beta 2m, quartile 4 of CRP, and the combination of high beta 2m plus high CRP were significantly associated with a high value of PWV (quartile 4 of beta 2m: odds ratio [OR] 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.89; quartile 4 of CRP: OR 2.27, 95% CI, 1.18-4.34; high beta 2m plus high CRP: OR 5.60, 95% C19 2.38-13.2). These results suggest that beta 2m is associated with an increase of arterial stiffness. Further studies are needed to clarify whether, beta 2m is related to atherosclerotic diseases, and whether the combination of beta 2m and CRP measurement is a useful predictor for the development of atherosclerosis.