Question
The child has been experiencing dry heaves for the past four days, with fever for the first two days. Although the fever has subsided, the child still has dry heaves and a loss of appetite. The doctor recommended a blood test, which showed an elevated level of human serum amyloid A. What does this mean?
Answer
Human Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is an indicator used to assess the early stages of inflammatory diseases. It is significant for diagnosing inflammation, monitoring inflammatory activity, and monitoring treatment progress. It is particularly useful in diagnosing viral infections, graft rejection reactions (especially under immunosuppressive therapy), and for patients with cystic fibrosis receiving adrenal cortical hormone treatment, where SAA can provide more accurate evidence than C-reactive protein (CRP). In the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis, the relationship between SAA and disease activity is very close. Measuring both CRP and SAA can enhance the sensitivity of infection diagnosis.