Serum sialic acid and its relationship to various haematological parameters, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Serum total sialic acid (TSA) has been reported to be a marker or risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The reason for this is not clear, although it has been suggested that serum TSA is a marker of the acute phase response. We measured serum TSA and various haematological parameters in 40 subjects. Significant correlations of serum TSA with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r = 0.65, P < 0.0001), platelet count (r = 0.65, P < 0.0001) and neutrophil count (r = 0.33, P < 0.05) were found. There was an inverse correlation with haemoglobin concentration (r = -0.62, P < 0.0001) and erythrocyte count (r = -0.42, P < 0.01).