Correlation of persistently high serum amyloid A protein and C-reactive protein concentrations with rapid progression of secondary amyloidosis

• Published in: BMJ 1983-04, Vol.286 (6375), p.1391-1393
• Main Authors: Falck, H M, Maury, C P, Teppo, A M, Wegelius, O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amyloid - analysis; Amyloidosis; Amyloidosis - blood; Amyloidosis - etiology; Amyloids; Ankylosing spondylitis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Creatinine - metabolism; Female; Humans; Internal medicine; Kidney failure; Kidney Failure, Chronic - blood; Kidney Failure, Chronic - etiology; Male; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Renal clearance; Renal function; Rheumatoid arthritis; Serum Amyloid A Protein - analysis; Urine
• ISSN: 0007-1447; 0267-0623; 0959-8138; 1468-5833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.286.6375.1391

The importance of serum amyloid A protein in the progression of renal failure was studied over three years in 28 patients with secondary (amyloid A type) amyloidosis predominantly due to rheumatoid arthritis. Creatinine clearance, the amount of protein in the urine, and serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein concentrations were determined regularly. Linear regression analysis showed a close correlation between the change in creatinine clearance each year and both serum amyloid A concentrations (20 patients: r= -0.83, p less than 0.001) and C-reactive protein concentrations (28 patients: r= -0.80, p less than 0.001). The correlation between serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein concentrations was also significant (317 parallel measurements: r=0.81, p less than 0.001). These findings suggest that monitoring serum amyloid A or C-reactive protein concentrations is valuable in assessing the prognosis in secondary amyloidosis and that therapeutic measures that lower serum amyloid A concentrations may reduce the formation of amyloid.