A Clinical Investigation on Serum Amyloid A Concentration in Client-Owned Healthy and Diseased Cats in a Primary Care Animal Hospital

Abstract

Although measurement of serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration in client-owned cats has already been shown to be clinically useful, limited data are available on common diseases at primary care hospitals. In this study, we measured the SAA concentration in cats with various diseases and investigated their clinical significance using a primary care hospital as a population. We measured the SAA concentrations in healthy cats (n = 98) and those with various clinical signs (n = 444). The SAA concentrations in healthy cats did not differ significantly by age, breed, sex, and presence/absence of neutering/spaying. The SAA concentrations were significantly higher in the diseased cat group than in the healthy cat group (p < 0.001). We observed significant increases in SAA concentrations in cats with confirmed diagnosis of inflammatory disease such as upper respiratory tract infections (p < 0.001), pneumonia (p < 0.001), pyometra (p = 0.001), and feline infectious peritonitis (p < 0.001), compared with those observed in healthy cats. Conversely, no increase was observed in cardiomyopathy, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes mellitus without systemic inflammation. In univariate analysis, survival at 30 days (p = 0.03) differed significantly between the low and high SAA concentration groups, but not at 180 days. In multivariate analysis, survival at 30 days did not significantly affect SAA concentration. Measurement of SAA concentration is a useful biomarker for detecting the presence or absence of inflammation in diseased cats. However, it may not be useful as a biomarker for determining the prognosis of the disease.

Interferon-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10) and serum amyloid A (SAA) are excellent biomarkers for the prediction of COVID-19 progression and severity

“…Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute-phase plasma protein that produced by hepatocytes in response to the inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 [ 14 ]. In humans, SAA is considered to be diagnostically superior to CRP in pathological conditions such as viral diseases and transplant rejection [ 15 ].…”

Serum canine thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) concentrations correlate with disease severity and therapeutic responses in dogs with atopic dermatitis

“…Even so, this study was conducted in accordance with the ethical codes of the Japan Veterinary Medical Association. 30 Clinical score assessment and treatment for cAD…”

Relationship between anti-insulin antibody production and severe insulin resistance in a diabetic cat

“…However, in the present case, on day 43, SAA was 13.7 µg/ml, which is only slightly higher than the reference range (0-6.5 µg/ml). Previously, it was reported that cats with upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, pyometra, feline infectious peritonitis, trauma, and/or sepsis exhibited a median SAA of >100 µg/ml [20,24]. In cats with diabetic ketoacidosis (n = 8), the median SAA was reported as 4.1 μg/ml (interquartile range, 0.3-60.5 μg/ml) [24].…”

“…Previously, it was reported that cats with upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, pyometra, feline infectious peritonitis, trauma, and/or sepsis exhibited a median SAA of >100 µg/ml [20,24]. In cats with diabetic ketoacidosis (n = 8), the median SAA was reported as 4.1 μg/ml (interquartile range, 0.3-60.5 μg/ml) [24]. As such, the low level of inflammation (13.7 µg/ml) in the current case would not have induced insulin resistance to the extent that 1.5 IU/kg insulin would be needed twice a day.…”