Diffuse interstitial pulmonary amyloidosis in rheumatoid arthritis
1Division of Rheumatology, National Medical Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
We describe a woman with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who presented with diffuse septal pulmonary amyloidosis mimicking interstitial rheumatoid lung disease. Her systemic amyloidosis was diagnosed by biopsy of the kidney, stomach mucosa, and salivary glands 28 years after the onset of RA. Diffuse interstitial pulmonary infiltrates had been noted since that diagnosis, but infiltrates had been considered due to rheumatoid lung. Results of pulmonary function tests, which revealed restrictive changes and decreased diffusion capacity, were also compatible with rheumatoid lung disease. Pulmonary amyloidosis was diagnosed at autopsy. Pulmonary amyloidosis should be considered a cause of pulmonary infiltrates in patients with longstanding RA.
Related Concept Videos
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Chronic Inflammation: Introduction


