Key result
Systemic chemotherapy fails to halt rapid fatal multi-organ failure in AL amyloidosis presenting as colitis.
Why the study?
Gastrointestinal amyloidosis is rare, carries a poor prognosis, and its varied presentations mimicking other conditions make prompt diagnosis difficult.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Systemic AL amyloidosis can present with gastrointestinal symptoms mimicking colitis and requires a careful, systematic approach for prompt diagnosis.
Requires early consideration of systemic AL amyloidosis in colitis mimics; extends known manifestations and supports systematic diagnostic efforts prior to therapy.
Gastrointestinal amyloidosis is a rare but often a manifestation of an advanced form of systemic amyloidosis that carries a poor prognosis. Its presentation may mimic ischemic bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or protein-losing enteropathy, among others. Often, varied presentations make it difficult to diagnose. Hence, a careful and systematic approach with an aggressive treatment strategy is needed for prompt diagnosis and treatment of the fatal condition. Here, we report a fatal case of systemic amyloidosis (amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis) with its initial presentation including gastrointestinal symptoms and subsequent rapid clinical deterioration due to worsening renal function and evidence of pericardial effusion.
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Prabakaran et al. (2026) conducted a case report in 75-year-old male patient with systemic amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis presenting as colitis with renal and cardiac involvement (n=1). Systemic chemotherapy with daratumumab, cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone was evaluated on Clinical course including GI symptoms improvement and survival/mortality outcome. Systemic chemotherapy was initiated but the patient experienced rapid clinical deterioration with multi-organ failure leading to death from systemic AL amyloidosis presenting as colitis.
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