Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Autoimmune |
| Also described as | GPCR autoAbs — ME/CFS overlap |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Dysautonomia |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| Source | Gean et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119456 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies is reported
- β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies in ME/CFS — ↑ elevated vs HC
See the cross-condition hub: β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies across conditions.
Related Autoimmune markers in Gulf War Illness
- Muscarinic receptor autoantibodies ↑
- Rheumatoid factor (RF) ↕
- Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) ↕
- Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies ↑
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies in Gulf War Illness than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Source: Gean et al. 2021.
What symptoms is β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with Dysautonomia. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies specific to Gulf War Illness?
No. The same marker is also reported in ME/CFS in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.