A quantitative method for detecting deposits of amyloid A protein in aspirated fat tissue of patients with arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a new, quantitative, and reproducible method for detecting deposits of amyloid A protein in aspirated fat tissue and to compare it with smears stained with Congo red.


METHODS
After extraction of at least 30 mg of abdominal fat tissue in guanidine, the amyloid A protein concentration was measured by a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA.


RESULTS
The concentrations in 24 patients with arthritis and AA amyloidosis (median 236, range 1.1-8530 ng/mg tissue) were higher (p < 0.001) than in non-arthritic controls, uncomplicated rheumatoid arthritis, and other types of systemic amyloidosis (median 1.1, range 1.1-11.6 ng/mg tissue). Patients with extensive deposits, according to Congo red staining, had higher concentrations than patients with minute deposits.


CONCLUSIONS
This is a new, quantitative, and reproducible method for detecting deposits of amyloid A protein in aspirated fat tissue of patients with arthritis, even when minute deposits are present as detected in smears stained with Congo red.
Hazenberg
B P
BP
Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Limburg
P C
PC
Bijzet
J
J
van Rijswijk
M H
MH
D000005:Abdomen; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications*; D003224:Congo Red; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D015187:Lipectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D003224:Congo Red