Serum Amyloid A (SAA)
Acute-phase reactant and amyloid precursor
- Expression
- Elevated
- Evidence level
- established
- Targeted by
- Colchicine, IL-1 blockers (indirect)
Role in pathogenesis
SAA is produced by the liver in response to IL-1beta and IL-6 during FMF attacks. Persistently elevated SAA during remission periods (subclinical inflammation) is the precursor to AA amyloidosis. Median SAA >155 mg/L confers 17.7x relative risk of death. SAA is the key biomarker for monitoring disease control.
Targeting drugs (1)
| Drug | Mechanism | Response | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colchicine | Microtubule disruption; reduces leukocyte motility and phagocytosis | ~95% (attack prevention) | 1st |