title: Amyloid arthropathy associated with multiple myeloma: a systematic analysis of 101 reported cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Amyloid deposition in multiple myeloma (MM) may lead to an arthropathy resembling rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since a systematic description of its natural history is lacking, we have performed a systematic analysis of all published cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review featuring backward and forward database searches and direct inspection of reference lists. Inclusion criteria were as follows: publication between 1931 and 2012, diagnosis of multiple myeloma, and demonstration of light chain amyloid (AL) in any organ or in synovial fluid, arthritis, or synovitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 101 cases were identified. Median age was 59 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1. A systemic manifestation of MM was reported in 88 cases. In 53 of these, characteristic physical findings (carpal tunnel syndrome, macroglossia, shoulder pad, and soft tissue swelling/masses) were present. Arthritis manifested before the diagnosis of MM in 63 cases, with 33 cases initially misdiagnosed as RA. There were 72 cases of poly-, 17 of oligo-, and three of monoarthritis. The shoulder joint was most commonly affected, followed by knees and small hand joints. Median synovial fluid leukocyte count was 2460 cells/mm(3), and was normal in seven cases. Synovial histopathology often featured mild synovitis without plasma cell infiltration. Imaging revealed articular or periarticular inflammation in many cases and bone lesions near 22% of affected joints. Treatments varied but led to some improvement in the majority of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results solidify previous experience that MM arthropathy tends to feature a symmetric RF-negative nonerosive polyarthritis. However, the results also highlight the diversity of its presentations and stress the importance of arthropathy as a potentially under-recognized presenting manifestation of MM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elsaman
authors.forename: Ahmed R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Radwan
authors.forename: Manas K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Akmatov
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Della Beffa
authors.forename: Alisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Christian T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Lie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nativ
authors.forename: Marite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rygg
authors.forename: Erato
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Atsali
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saijo
authors.forename: Alexis R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ogdie
authors.forename: Nagaraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srinivasulu
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.forename: H Ralph
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pessler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013585:Synovitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Amyloid; Arthritis; Arthropathy; Multiple myeloma