Use of Biologic Therapy in AA Amyloidosis Patients Undergoing Dialysis-A Systematic Literature Review

The advent of biological agents has provided significant therapeutic opportunities for patients with AA amyloidosis. However, when these patients reach end-stage renal disease and begin dialysis, some clinicians may discontinue biological treatments due to the heightened risk of infections. Given that AA amyloidosis is a progressive condition, there is a potential for the disease to affect additional organs in these patients. Consequently, we aimed to evaluate the benefits and risks associated with biological agents in AA amyloidosis patients receiving dialysis.

We performed a systematic literature review in Cochrane Database and MEDLINE about the use of biologic agents in AA amyloidosis patients undergoing dialysis.

We identified fifty-five patients across twenty-two studies. Familial Mediterranean fever was the etiology in 21 patients (71.4% anakinra and 28.6% canakinumab), rheumatoid arthritis in 17 patients (52.9% etanercept and 47.1% tocilizumab), unknown etiology in 8 patients (62.5% anakinra and 37.5% tocilizumab), ankylosing spondylitis in 5 patients (40% etanercept, 40% adalimumab, and 20% infliximab), hidradenitis suppurativa in 3 patients and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) in 1 patient. Biologic agents were effective or partially effective for primary disease control in 52 patients (94.5%). Two patients were able to discontinue dialysis. Most frequent side effects were infections (8 episodes in 7 patients). Eight patients died (5 due to infections, one due to cardiac causes and two due to pulmonary hemorrhage).

Biologic agents are effective in AA amyloidosis patients that are treated with dialysis and seem to have an acceptable safety profile.