AA amyloidosis in systemic lupus erythematosus

A 37-year-old woman with longstanding systemic lupus erythematosus developed cardiac insufficiency, nephrotic syndrome, and azotemia. The findings at echocardiography and cardiac scintigraphy suggested amyloidosis, which was confirmed by rectal biopsy and fine needle biopsy of subcutaneous abdominal fat. Postmortem examination revealed systemic amyloidosis with massive deposits in the heart, spleen and kidneys. She had persistently increased concentration of serum amyloid A protein during the last 4 years of her life, and her amyloidosis was of the secondary (AA) type, as shown by immunohistochemical studies.