Case of Secondary Amyloidosis in a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis Refractory to TNF-alpha Inhibitors / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Secondary amyloidosis occurs in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The major therapeutic approach to secondary amyloidosis involves controlling the underlying inflammatory disease. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatic diseases; in many cases dramatic clinical improvement of secondary amyloidosis due to AS has been observed in response to treatment with these agents. However, the development of secondary amyloidosis associated with AS refractory to treatment with TNF-alpha inhibitors has been infrequently reported. Here, we described a case of a 37-year-old male patient with longstanding AS who was diagnosed with secondary amyloidosis due to high disease activity despite treatment with etanercept, adalimumab and infliximab.