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 phase proteins; C-reactive protein, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in 37 geriatric patients (age 80.1 +/- 7.0 years) and 50 younger subjects (age 40.3 +/- 11.4 years). Serum total sialic acid 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-antichymotrypsin being 0.80 +/- 0.20 g/l versus 0.52 +/- 0.10 g/l, P < 0.0001 and 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 acid and serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin in the geriatric subjects and with alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and C-reactive protein in the younger group.