Serum Amyloid A Level in Egyptian Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Hala M Lofty; Huda Marzouk; Yomna Farag; Mohammad Nabih; Iman A S Khalifa; Noha Mostafa; Ahmed Salah; Laila Rashed; Kamal El Garf

doi:10.1155/2016/7354018

Serum Amyloid A Level in Egyptian Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Int J Rheumatol. 2016:2016:7354018. doi: 10.1155/2016/7354018. Epub 2016 Dec 13.

Authors

Hala M Lofty¹, Huda Marzouk¹, Yomna Farag¹, Mohammad Nabih¹, Iman A S Khalifa¹, Noha Mostafa¹, Ahmed Salah¹, Laila Rashed², Kamal El Garf³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
² Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
³ Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Background and Objectives. SAA is an acute-phase reactant detected during an FMF attack or other inflammatory conditions. High SAA levels may increase the risk of amyloidosis. The aim of the study is to measure the serum amyloid A (SAA) level in a group of Egyptian children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and study its various correlates, if any. Methods. The study enrolled seventy-one children with FMF. Results. SAA level was high in 78.9% of the studied patients with a mean of 81.62 ± 31.6 mg/L, and CRP was positive in 31% of patients. There was no significant releation between SAA level and any demographic or clinical manifestation. High SAA was more frequent in V726A allele (16.9%) followed by M694V allele (12.3%). Elevated SAA levels were more frequent in patients on low colchicine doses. Forty-five percent (45%) of patients have low adherence to colchicine therapy. Interpretation and Conclusion. High SAA levels were detected two weeks after last FMF attack in a large percentage of Egyptian FMF children. This indicates that subclinical inflammation continues during attack-free periods, and SAA could be used as a marker of it.