[Amyloidosis. Biochemical aspects]

[Temporal artery syndrome in amyloidosis AL associated with myeloma]

The authors report a case of amyloidosis AL associated with light lambda chain myeloma, mimicking giant cell temporal arteritis. The normality of inflammatory proteins, the primary resistance to corcicosteroids and the results of temporal artery biopsy (amyloid deposits without giant cell granuloma) excluded a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis associated with amyloidosis. The most probable mechanism was infiltration of branches of the external carotid artery. In patients with temporal arteritis, amyloidosis must be suspected and sought, particularly in case of monoclonal dysglobulinaemia or manifestations that are not typical of giant cell temporal arteritis. The prognosis of vascular amyloidosis seems to be more favourable than that of the classical visceral types. The primary amyloidosis of these patients must be treated with melphalan combined with prednisone and colchicine.