Serum amyloid-a and HDL-cholesterol : influence on rheumatoid disease activity

Abstract EN

Objective: Serum amyloid-A (A-SAA) is an acute phase reactant that has been reported to be more sensitive than CRP and ESR as a marker of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

It is also related to HDL-cholesterol.

The aim of our study was to measure the level of A-SAA in RA patients and to correlate its level with the parameters of disease activity, and to find out the relation between A-SAA and HDL-cholesterol.

Methods: Using ELISA technique, A-SAA was measured in the serum of 50 RA patients, in different grades of disease activity and 20 healthy matched controls.

CRP was determined using standard ELISA; ESR using Westergren method and HDL-cholesterol with synchron CX7 after more than 12 hours of fasting.

Disease activity was assessed with Stock index.

Results: A-SAA levels showed a significant positive relation with clinical disease activity (f= 80.8); significant positive correlation with CRP (r=0.68) & ESR (r= 0.54), and significant negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol (r= -0.31).

The magnitude of the A-SAA response was greater than either the CRP or ESR.

Conclusion: A-SAA correlates best with disease activity more than CRP or ESR.

It may be the best marker available for the assessment of rheumatoid disease activity.

In addition, A-SAA shows a significant negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol.