title: Serum amyloid A levels in kidney-transplanted patients with familial Mediterranean fever-amyloidosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amyloidosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) may lead to end-stage renal failure, culminating in kidney transplantation. Since amyloidosis is prompted by high serum amyloid A (SAA) levels, increased SAA is expected to persist after transplantation. However, no data are available to confirm such an assumption.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine SAA levels in kidney-transplanted FMF-amyloidosis patients and evaluate risk factors for the expected high SAA levels in this patient group.
  
  
  METHODS
  SAA, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values were obtained from 16 kidney-transplanted FMF-amyloidosis patients, 18 FMF patients without amyloidosis and 20 kidney-transplanted patients with non-inflammatory underlying disease. Demographic, clinical and genetic risk factors evaluation was based on data extracted from files, interviews and examination of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SAA level in FMF patients who underwent kidney transplantation due to amyloidosis was elevated with a mean of 21.1 +/- 11.8 mg/L (normal < or = 10 mg/L). It was comparable to that of transplanted patients with non-inflammatory disorders, but tended to be higher than in FMF patients without amyloidosis (7.38 +/- 6.36, P = 0.08). Possible risk factors for the elevated SAA levels in kidney transplant patients that were excluded were ethnic origin, MEFV mutations, gender, age and disease duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kidney-transplanted patients with FMF-amyloidosis and with other non-FMF causes displayed mildly elevated SAA levels, possibly resulting from exposure to foreign tissue rather than from various FMF-related factors.
authors: Departments of Medicine A & C, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. kivitys@gmail.com
authors: Shaye
authors: S
authors: Kivity
authors: Iveta
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authors: Danilesko
authors: Ilan
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authors: Ben-Zvi
authors: Boris
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authors: Gilburd
authors: Olga L
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authors: Kukuy
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authors: Rahamimov
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