A Case of Secondary Amyloidosis Involving Heart

Chae, Jei Keon

Abstract

Amyloidosis is a disease characterized by deposition of amorphous and insoluble fibrillar protein in various tissues and organs, but its productive mechanism has not been established yet. Enlargement and functional disturbance of infiltrated organs result in various clinical symptoms. Primary amyloidosis usually involve tongue, heart, nerve, gastrointestinal tract, ligament, skin, and bone marrow without underlying disease. Secondary amyloidosis is associated with chronic inflammatory disease such as tuberculosis, urogenital infection, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic ulcerative colitis, myelitis, 3rd syphilis and leprosy. The authors had experienced a case of secondary amyloidosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, especially involving heart. He had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for 17 years and admitted because of generalized edema and dyspnea. This case was confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy and immunohistochemical stain showed AA type. We treated him conservatively and he was transferred to other hospital on the 25th day of hospitalization but died suddenly after twelve hours.