[Clinical significance of serum sialic acid in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus].

A study of the clinical significance of serum sialic acid (SA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is presented in this paper. Because a definite correlation (n = 30, r = 0.74, P less than 0.001) between SA and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and a good reflection of SA to disease activity in clinical course were revealed in RA patients, we were able to use SA in place of ESR as a marker of disease activity and a guide to treatment. On the other hand, although a good correlation (n = 22, r = 0.62, P less than 0.01) between SA and ESR was revealed in SLE patients, SA was inapplicable as a marker of disease activity in SLE because of a poor correlation between SA and anti-DNA antibody or serum complement which is mainly used as a marker of disease activity and a guide to treatment.