Serum S100A12 may be a useful biomarker of disease activity in adult-onset Still's disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: S100A12 and soluble receptor for advanced glycation endproducts

(sRAGE) have been suggested as biomarkers of disease activity in patients with

systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. We investigated the clinical significance

of these markers in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). METHODS: Blood samples

were collected from 37 patients with active AOSD and 38 healthy controls (HC). Of

the patients with AOSD, followup samples were collected from 19 patients after

resolution of disease activity. RESULTS: Serum S100A12 (547.9 +/- 148.4 ng/ml) in

patients with AOSD was higher than those of HC (272.3 +/- 133 ng/ml, p < 0.001).

The sRAGE levels of AOSD (514.1 +/- 273.6 pg/ml) were lower than those of HC

(850.3 +/- 405.8 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Serum S100A12 correlated with serum sRAGE (r

= -0.228, p = 0.049). Serum S100A12 correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation

rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, and systemic score, whereas sRAGE

did not correlate with any disease activity markers. In addition, the level of

S100A12 was decreased after disease activity was resolved in followed-up patients

with AOSD (505.7 +/- 161.3 ng/ml vs 361.3 +/- 162.5 ng/ml, p = 0.01). Further,

the change of S100A12 was well correlated with that of ESR, CRP, and systemic

score. CONCLUSION: S100A12 levels showed strong correlations with known disease

activity markers such as ESR, CRP, ferritin, and systemic score. In the followup

patients with AOSD, most patients showed decreased S100A12 levels after

resolution of disease activity. These results suggest that serum S100A12 can be a

reliable clinical marker for monitoring disease activity and treatment response.