Secondary systemic amyloid

Definition:

A disorder of unknown cause in which insoluble protein fibers become deposited in tissues and organs impairing their function. It is found in association with chronic infection or chronic inflammatory disease.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The exact mechanism that causes secondary systemic amyloid is unknown. The risk factors are the presence of chronic inflammatory or infectious diseases. Secondary systemic amyloid occurs in association with multiple myeloma, and chronic conditions (those that last for 5 or more years) such as rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, long term paraplegia, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, chronic osteomyelitis, recurrent pyogenic (involving pus) skin infection/abscess, decubitus ulcers, chronic renal dialysis, juvenile chronic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Reiter's syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, Hodgkin's disease, Sjogren's syndrome, and hairy cell leukemia.

Symptoms are the same as in primary amyloidosis. The symptoms are related to the organs that become affected with the deposits. The affected organs exhibit reduced function.

The incidence is less than 1 our of 10,000 people. It is very rare in children.