Amyloidosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis treated with Hormones

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Abstract
The necropsy records of 108 cases of rheumatoid arthritis were studied and the incidence of generalized secondary amyloidosis determined. In 54 patients who died before the introduction of cortisone therapy (1950) there were five instances (9.3%) of amyloidosis. In 54 patients who died between 1954 and 1960 there were eight instances of amyloidosis (14.8%). Of the eight cases of generalized amyloidosis who have come to necropsy since the introduction of cortisone, one had received steroid therapy. By contrast, five of the 54 recent cases of rheumatoid arthritis were known to have been treated with steroids but were not found to have amyloidosis. In spite of the experimental evidence, the available information does not support the suggestion of an increase in secondary amyloidosis in rheumatoid arthritis as the result of the use of hormone therapy.

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