ABSTRACT
A major cause of secondary or AA amyloidosis in 1972 was infection. In the United States and elsewhere 20-40 percent of patients with lepromatous leprosy died from amyloidosis of the kidney. AA amyloidosis was a major cause of death among paraplegics. Chronic tuberculosis was a prominent cause of AA amyloidosis. Effective antibiotics have eradicated or markedly decreased the incidence of chronic infection from any organism, and thus have markedly reduced chronic infection as a cause of AA amyloidosis. AA amyloidosis was the major serious complication of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). In 1974 colchicine was found to decrease the attacks of inflammation associated with FMF and daily lifelong treatment with colchicine has dramatically decreased the complication of AA amyloidosis. Chronic inflammatory rheumatologic diseases and inflammatory bowel disorders are still major causes of AA amyloidosis. However with the discovery of more effective treatments, including methotrexate and tumor necrosis inhibitors, it is expected that fewer patients with these diseases will develop AA amyloidosis.
