Secondary amyloidosis complicating rheumatoid arthritis; report of a case in an eight-year-old girl.

Abstract

Secondary amyloidosis can complicate any long-standing suppurative infection, such as tuberculosis, osteomyelitis and disorders of connective tissue, i.e., the so-called "collagen diseases". Rheumatoid arthritis is known to be a notable precursor of amyloidosis. The fact that a long-standing process is often necessary to produce the changes in the ground substance, makes Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (J R A) an interesting challenge to that hypothesis. The decreasing incidence of secondary amyloidosis, complicating rheumatoid arthritis, is attributed to better management of patients and the use of more effective anti-inflammatory therapy.