[Secondary amyloidosis of the bladder and massive hematuria].
OBJECTIVE
To report four additional cases of secondary amyloidosis of the bladder, an extremely rare condition, as shown by the cases reported in the literature.


METHODS
Four clinical cases are reported, all of them occurring as hematuria, which was massive and fulminant and resulted in death in three patients.


RESULTS
Secondary amyloidosis of the bladder is of the AA type, which is more common in females and mainly secondary to rheumatoid arthritis, but also to ankylosing spondylitis and long-standing chronic inflammatory conditions. Hematuria is the main and virtually only symptom. A pathological and immunohistochemical study confirmed diagnosis. All three patients who experienced massive, fatal hematuria had an intercurrent condition requiring urethral catheterization, which was the triggering factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite its rarity, as shown by the few cases reported, secondary amyloidosis of the bladder should be considered in patients already diagnosed with systemic amyloidosis and/or the conditions reported who require simple urethral catheterization.
García-Escudero López
A
A
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Txagorritxu, Vitoria, Alava, España. agareslo@telefonica.net
Arruza Echevarría
A
A
Leunda Saizar
J
J
Infante Riaño
R
R
Padilla Nieva
J
J
Ortiz Barredo
E
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006417:Hematuria / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery