Serum Amyloid A in lung transplantation

Background: Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is an acute phase protein and we analyzed its concentrations in lung transplantated patients (LTX). Methods: 26 LTX patients (58.6 +/- 11 years) and 11 healthy controls (55 +/- 11.3 years). Three groups of LTX patients: acute rejection (AR, 7) bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS, 3), acute infection (INF, 9) and stable patients (NEG, 7). Results: In LTX patients SAA concentrations were significantly increased, particularly in AR and INF. In LTX-AR patients were observed a correlation between SAA levels and peripheral CD4+ lymphocyte percentage (r=0.9, p<0.01) and a reverse correlation with FVC percentages (r -0.94, p=0.01). Conclusions: SAA may represent a potential biomarker of LTX acute complications, with a prognostic value in AR.