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. 2001 Feb;60(2):124–127. doi: 10.1136/ard.60.2.124

Relative serum amyloid A (SAA) values: the influence of SAA1 genotypes and corticosteroid treatment in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

T Yamada 1, Y Okuda 1, K Takasugi 1, K Itoh 1, J Igari 1
PMCID: PMC1753473  PMID: 11156544

Abstract

OBJECTIVES—(1) To determine whether serum concentration of serum amyloid A (SAA) protein is influenced by the SAA1 allele in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as previously shown in a healthy control group; and (2) to analyse what factors, based on such an allelic bias, influence the relative SAA values of those patients.
METHODS—SAA and C reactive protein (CRP) concentrations together with SAA1 genotypes were determined in 316 Japanese patients with RA. The relative SAA values were evaluated as an SAA/CRP ratio.
RESULTS—Comparison of the three SAA1 homozygote groups showed that the SAA/CRP ratio was highest in the 1.5/1.5 group (mean 9.0, p<0.01 v the other two homozygote groups) followed by the 1.3/1.3 group (mean 7.2, NS v the 1.1/1.1 group) and the 1.1/1.1 group (mean 4.0). The SAA/CRP ratio was significantly higher in patients receiving corticosteroids regardless of the presence of allele 1.5. No clear differences in the ratio between patients with or without amyloidosis were found.
CONCLUSION—The SAA1.5 allele and corticosteroid treatment had a positive influence on SAA concentrations in serum. These findings are important when evaluating SAA concentration in inflammatory diseases and when considering the cause or treatment of amyloidosis.



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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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Box plots of serum amyloid A/C reactive protein (SAA/CRP) ratios of the three SAA1 homozygote groups. Boxes indicate 25th to 75th centiles; lines in boxes, median values; and upper and lower bars, range from 0 to 100th centile. Subjects with 1.5/1.5 had a higher SAA/CRP ratio than the other two groups. No significant differences were noted between subjects with 1.1/1.1 and 1.3/1.3 genotypes.

Figure 2  .

Figure 2  

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Relation between the serum amyloid A/C reactive protein (SAA/CRP) ratio and dose of prednisolone. Significant correlation was observed in subjects with the allele SAA1.5 (n=111), but not in those without it (n=138). Data from five subjects were not included in the plot because of isolated data.

Selected References

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