Primary amyloidosis mimicking Crohn's disease: a case report

Amyloidosis is an uncommon disease that results from the extracellular deposition of abnormal fibrillary protein. This paper reports a case of primary amyloidosis with predominant involvement of the gastrointestinal tract and heart as a mimicker of Crohn's disease in a sixty-seven years old man admitted with repeated diarrhea and fatigue. This patient poorly responded to 5-aminosalicylic acid and quickly developed dyspnea and hypotension. The further laboratory test revealed a monoclonal protein detected by serum protein electrophoresis. Biopsy of abdominal wall fat pad revealed amyloid substance deposited and positive Congo red staining, which was diagnosed as primary amyloidosis.