AA (secondary) amyloidosis is one of the most severe and uncommon complications of several rheumatic disorders and chronic infections such as tuberculosis (TB). Successful treatment depends on the control of the underlying inflammatory process, what can lead to an improvement or a regression in organ dysfunction. If the disorder persists, it has been reported in some cases of AA amyloidosis secondary to rheumatic diseases, that the use of biologic therapy is so far the only opportunity to reduce the development of AA amyloidosis and to reverse established deposits. We report herein a case of a latent TB infection complicated by a life-threatening AA amyloidosis presented as nephrotic syndrome. After an adequate antituberculostatic treatment, AA amyloidosis remained active and Tocilizumab (TCZ) was started with a dramatic resolution of the proteinuria, stabilization of the amyloid deposits and improvement in general condition.
Given the important use of biological treatments in rheumatologic / systemic diseases in recent years, secondary alterations to them on the nervous system are currently being diagnosed mainly of an inflammatory nature that can be confused with multiple sclerosis since they are both level clinical as in very similar image.
In this article we present a clinical case of a 44-year-old man who shows signs and symptoms compatible with cerebral demyelinating disease in relation to an Anti TNF-a called Adalimumab in the context of an ankylosing spondylitis resistant to infliximab after 4 years of biological treatment.
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