Amyloid-related Serum Protein (SAA) in Patients with Inherited Amyloidosis and Certain Viral Conditions

Amyloid-related serum protein (SAA) was studied with a double immunodiffusion method. Only 2 of 21 patients with inherited systemic amyloidosis and lattice corneal dystrophy had elevated SAA levels in their sera. Several pseudoexfoliation patients had elevated levels of SAA, but it was not possible to differentiate an age-related elevation of SAA from that associated with this disease. In addition, SAA was found in the sera of many groups of patients with acute viral infections, including 10 of 11 patients with measles and 7 of 11 persons vaccinated against rubella. Elevation of SAA protein appeared in the serum before the 6th day after the vaccination, had its peak value between days 6 and 12, but was absent already on the 20th day. In this relation the SAA protein appears to behave as an acute-phase reactant.