AL-amyloidosis presenting as massive gastrointestinal bleeding

Multiple myeloma with primary amyloidosis presenting with digestive symptoms: A case report and literature review

We present a case of multiple myeloma with primary systemic amyloidosis presenting with digestive symptoms in a 32-year-old male. Initial symptoms included upper abdominal discomfort for 4 months, and stool with mucous and blood for 1 month. Erosive gastritis, Helicobacter pylori infection, haematochezia, and weight loss were noted, but without bone pain, anaemia, or hypercalcaemia. Bone marrow examination showed 18.5% mature monoclonal plasma cells that were λ light chain protein and CD38 positive. Three courses of 28-day PTD therapy (i.e., bortezomib, dexamethasone, and thalidomide) were administered. Gastrointestinal symptoms and laboratory parameters improved. Post-treatment follow-up showed 0.5% plasma cells with normal morphology in bone marrow, urine λ light chain 10.1 mg/L, and negative M protein. Nevertheless, the patient died of multiple organ system failure 8 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Amyloidosis is an uncommon finding in patients with multiple myeloma, especially in younger individuals.

Clinical manifestations at diagnosis in Japanese patients with systemic AL amyloidosis: a retrospective study of 202 cases with a special attention to uncommon symptoms

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively investigate the clinical manifestations at diagnosis in Japanese patients with systemic AL amyloidosis.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 230 Japanese patients who had visited our hospital and been diagnosed with AL amyloidosis, and abstracted those with the systemic type. The clinical data at diagnosis of systemic AL amyloidosis, including laboratory and imaging findings, were analyzed.

RESULTS

Two hundred and two patients (mean, 58.7±9.5 years) were enrolled in this study. Immunofixation or immunoelectrophoresis was performed in 173 patients, 144 of whom were positive for M-protein in the serum and/or urine (κ:λ=30:114). The primary clinical manifestations at diagnosis were proteinuria and/or renal dysfunction (54.0%), congestive heart failure (24.8%), peripheral neuropathy (10.4%), hepatomegaly (7.9%) and arrhythmia (5.0%). The remaining patients developed unusual manifestations, such as solitary tumor, lymphadenopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal pseudoobstruction, hemorrhagic tendencies and polyarthralgia. Dilatation of the intestine with marked thickening of the gastrointestinal wall on computed tomography and multiple nodular lesions with associated mucosal friability on endoscopy are characteristic findings of systemic AL amyloidosis.

CONCLUSION

The clinical pictures of Japanese patients with systemic AL amyloidosis are similar to those previously reported from the US and European nations; however, some patients with this disease develop uncommon symptoms. Conducting laboratory and histological examinations for systemic AL amyloidosis is necessary when making a differential diagnosis of these symptoms.

Solitary amyloidosis of the sigmoid colon featuring submucosal tumor caused hematochezia

A previously a healthy 64-year-old woman complained of a two-week history of hemorrhaging upon defecation. The laboratory and urinalysis findings were normal, and no serum or urine M components were detectable on protein electrophoresis. An air contrast barium enema revealed an elevated lesion measuring -20 mm in diameter with a smooth surface and a depression in the sigmoid colon. Colonoscopy revealed a red colored and congested tumor. The exposed surface of the submucosal tumor (SMT) center was somewhat yellow in color and covered with fuzz. All other portions of the colon were normal. The endoscopy and double-contrast barium revealed a normal upper gastrointestinal tract and a normal small intestine, respectively. A histopathological evaluation of a biopsy specimen obtained from the SMT suggested amyloid deposition. However, the other biopsy specimens of the esophagus, stomach, duodenal bulb, second portion of the duodenum, terminal ileum and other portions of the colon demonstrated no amyloid deposition. Colonoscopic ultrasonography (US) revealed the hypoechoic, homogeneous SMT to be mainly localized within the submucosa. An endoscopic submucosal resection (EMR) of the solitary amyloidosis was performed and the immunohistopathology revealed the entire SMT to consist of amyloid light chain kappa amyloid deposition. We considered that the US followed by EMR contributed to the precise diagnosis of solitary amyloidosis and the treatment of hematochezia caused by a solitary area of amyloidosis within the sigmoid colon.

Fatal gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a paraplegic man with undiagnosed AA (secondary) amyloidosis

We report a case of a 41-year-old African-American male paraplegic for more than 20 years, who had recurrent infections, renal failure with total urine protein of 840 mg/dL on urine protein electrophoresis and adrenal cortical insufficiency. He died suddenly of massive gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. Autopsy showed clinically undiagnosed systemic amyloidosis involving the kidneys, adrenal cortices, spleen and small blood vessels of most organs and tissues, including those of the gastrointestinal tract. The history and autopsy findings indicated secondary or amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis. Paraplegia was one of the most common causes of secondary amyloidosis decades ago, but has now become unusual in patients with AA amyloidosis. Extensive involvement of GI small vessels was the most likely cause of fatal bleeding. GI amyloid previously has been shown to cause hemorrhage, but a fatal case has not yet been described.