Pathology · single question
A patient on long-term immunosuppressive biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis develops generalized organ deposits of misfolded protein related to chronic inflammation. Which condition is this, and what is its relevance to chronic untreated rheumatoid arthritis?
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Correct answer: A. Secondary (AA) amyloidosis, a recognized complication of long-standing, poorly controlled chronic inflammatory disease
Secondary (AA) amyloidosis results from chronically elevated serum amyloid A protein driven by long-standing inflammatory conditions such as poorly controlled rheumatoid arthritis; effective control of the underlying inflammatory disease (e.g., with a TNF-inhibitor like adalimumab) is actually protective and reduces this risk over time.