SERUM TOTAL SIALIC-ACID AND ACUTE-PHASE PROTEINS IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS

Serum total sialic acid has gained recent interest as a cardiovascular risk factor. We measured serum total sialic acid and three acute phas e proteins; C-reactive protein, alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin and alpha(1) -acid glycoprotein in 37 geriatric patients (age 80.1 +/- 7.0 years) a nd 50 younger subjects (age 40.3 +/- 11.4 years). Serum total sialic a cid was higher in the geriatric subjects 2.41 +/- 0.39 mmol/l versus 2 .04 +/- 0.35 mmol/l, P < 0.04. Serum alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, alpha (1)-antichymotrypsin and C-reactive protein were also elevated in the geriatric patients; serum alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein being 1.16 +/- 0. 32 g/l versus 0.41 +/- 0.28 g/l, P < 0.0001, serum alpha(1)-antichymot rypsin being 0.80 +/- 0.20 g/l versus 0.52 +/- 0.10 g/l, P < 0.0001 an d serum C-reactive protein being 9.71 +/- 21.0 mg/l versus 4.73 +/- 1. 30 mg/l, P < 0.04. There was a correlation with serum total sialic aci d and serum alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein and alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin i n the geriatric subjects and with alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, alpha(1) -antichymotrypsin and C-reactive protein in the younger group.