Giant cell arteritis "causing" AA-amyloidosis with rapid renal failure
Strasser, F.; Hailemariam, S.; Weinreich, T.; Speich, R.; Salomon, F.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 130(43): 1606-1609
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 11100514 Document Number: 517225
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitic disease, which in very rare cases causes inflammatory complications such as secondary amyloidosis. We describe a well-documented case, with a clinically mild course, of biopsyproven giant cell arteritis as the only apparent cause of systemic AA-Amyloidosis. The deterioration in renal function due to amyloid deposition occurred rapidly and only a few months after manifestation of giant cell arteritis and was not reversible by steroid treatment. The renal arteries were normal and there was no glomerulonephritis due to giant cell arteritis. This unique case demonstrates that giant cell arteritis with a mild clinical course is closely associated with early-onset severe secondary amyloidosis.