title: Long-term follow-up of systemic reactive AA amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis: successful treatment with intermediate-dose corticosteroid.
abstract: Reactive AA amyloidosis frequently develops in patients with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), usually resulting in an unfavorable outcome due to dysfunction of the vital organs. We report a 56-year-old woman with this form of amyloidosis secondary to RA who has been successfully treated with intermediate-dose prednisolone for two and a half years since diagnosis. Because prednisolone is superior to other drugs used for amyloidosis with respect to possible harmful effects on vital organs, we can safely try this drug as an alternative therapy to improve the prognosis even in patients with severe organ dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Shu-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003224:Congo Red; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D003224:Congo Red; D011239:Prednisolone