Correlation between serum amyloid a and disease activity of ulcerative colitis

Background and aim Serum amyloid A (SAA) is primarily produced in the liver, but it is also expressed extensively in other tissues, including the stomach and intestines. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the colorectum, marked with cycles of quiescence and exacerbation. This study aimed to analyze the link between SAA levels and the intensity of UC progression. Patients and methods This study is a prospective observational evaluation implemented on 100 patients aged more than 18, both sexes, diagnosed with UC. All patients were subjected to SAA, fecal calprotectin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) assessment. Results Total leucocytic count, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, random blood sugar, creatinine, SAA, CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and calprotectin were significantly higher before remission than after remission ( P <0.05). SAA, CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and calprotectin after remission were markedly elevated in the severe group compared to the mild and moderate groups ( P <0.001). The area under the curve demonstrated significant values higher than 0.5, representing the area of chance. SAA was associated with higher categories of UC severity with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.037, concluding that for every increase in amyloid A by one unit, the odds of being in a higher severity category increased by 3.7% adjusted to baseline factors. Conclusions There was a clear linkage between SAA levels and severity in UC patients. Furthermore, SAA levels in the bloodstream have the potential to be used as a reliable biomarker for evaluating disease progression and predicting prognosis.