Systemic amyloidosis causing intestinal hemorrhage and pseudo-obstruction

There are two major forms of amyloidosis, primary amyloidosis (AL) and secondary amyloidosis. AL amyloidosis results from deposition of immunoglobulin light chains or their fragments. One such example is AL amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma, in which overproduced immunoglobulin light chains get deposited onto tissues, leading to tissue dysfunction. Amyloidosis in the intestines can present as a wide spectrum of non-specific gastrointestinal (GI) complaints including abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, overt gastrointestinal bleeding and complaints related to altered motility in over 95% of the patients. In our case report, we describe a 70-year-old male taken to the operating room (OR) for non-resolving small bowel obstruction, found to have pseudo-obstruction and hemorrhagic enteritis. He was also diagnosed with multiple myeloma from a bone marrow biopsy and later biopsy of stomach and duodenum revealed amyloid deposition consistent with amyloidosis. In conclusion, patients with multiple myeloma and vague abdominal complaints should raise suspicion of amyloidosis.