Systemic reactive amyloidosis associated with Castleman's disease: serial changes of the concentrations of acute phase serum amyloid A and interleukin 6 in serum

J Clin Pathol. 1997 Nov;50(11):965-7. doi: 10.1136/jcp.50.11.965.

Abstract

A case is reported of a 21 year old woman who suffered from Castleman's disease and systemic reactive amyloidosis. The serum concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were extremely high and amyloid protein was immunohistochemically identified as AA. After surgical excision of a large retroperitoneal lymph node with the pathological findings of plasma cell type of Castleman's disease, both serum SAA and IL-6 declined, showing a similar pattern of reduction curves. All clinical symptoms and laboratory abnormalities greatly improved. The biochemical feature of Castleman's disease is abnormal production of IL-6 and this cytokine continuously may stimulate the synthesis of an amyloid precursor, SAA, causing systemic reactive (AA) amyloidosis. This pathogenetic theory is strongly supported by the present study.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amyloidosis / blood
  • Amyloidosis / etiology*
  • Castleman Disease / blood
  • Castleman Disease / complications*
  • Castleman Disease / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / blood*
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein