title: Serum amyloid A as a potent therapeutic marker in a refractory patient with polymyalgia rheumatica.
abstract: We report a patient with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) who showed a relapse soon after tapering of oral prednisolone. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were quickly normalized after the re-increase in oral prednisolone, and muscle pain and stiffness gradually improved in parallel with a decrease in serum amyloid A (SAA). Flow cytometry simultaneously demonstrated an increase in CD8+CD25+ cells and a decrease in CD4+CD25+ cells and CD4+CD45RA+ cells. When clinical symptoms remain with negative results for CRP and ESR even after the start of corticosteroid treatment, SAA might be a potent therapeutic marker for disease activity in PMR.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimojima
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gono
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Shu-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011239:Prednisolone