Serum amyloid protein levels in south american children with rheumatoid arthritis: a co-operative study.

Serum amyloid protein (SAA) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in 90 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Significantly higher levels of SAA were present in children with the polyarticular and systemic forms of the disease. SAA levels correlate with disease activity, increasing during acute exacerbations, decreasing during remission and in patients having prednisone therapy. High serum SAA concentrations in children with JRA did not correlate with the presence of secondary amyloidosis and may be useful as a disease monitor.