Immonen K et al. - No decline was seen in the number of patients with amyloidosis associated with inflammatory rheumatic diseases accepted for renal replacement therapy (RRT), but it increased over the years. The outcome of patients with amyloidosis and endstage renal disease associated with rheumatic diseases remains poor Methods
Objective was to assess the incidence and outcome of RRT among pts with amyloidosis associated with inflammatory rheumatic diseases
502 pts with amyloidosis entering RRT were identified
80% of whom had amyloidosis associated with an underlying rheumatic disease
They were followed from the time of entering RRT until death or until the end of 2003
Results
No decline in the no. of pts with amyloidosis entering RRT
Mean age of pts with RA and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) increased from 1987 to 2002
Male sex and a diagnosis of JIA indicated an increased risk of mortality
The median survival time after entering RRT was 2.11 yrs for RA, 2.37 yrs for ankylosing spondylitis, and 3.05 yrs for JIA
The 5-y survival rates among pts with the corresponding diagnoses were 18%, 30%, and 27%, respectively