title: Serum amyloid A (SAA): a concise review of biology, assay methods and clinical usefulness.
abstract: Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a family of proteins encoded in a multigene complex. Acute phase isotypes SAA1 and SAA2 are synthesized in response to inflammatory cytokines. SAA and C-reactive protein (CRP) are now the most sensitive indicators for assessing inflammatory activity. In viral infection and kidney allograft rejection, SAA proved more useful than CRP. Development of convenient assay methods for SAA will facilitate its use in clinical laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi, Tochigi, Japan. toshiyam@jichi.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000379:methods; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003401:Creatine