Renal Amyloid

Amyloid deposition in the kidneys and other organs represents an intriguing anomaly. The whole problem, with a discussion of so-called primary and secondary amyloidosis, has been fully reviewed in recent years (Symmers, 1956). Amyloidosis occurs secondarily to a variety of chronic diseases, in particular those with chronic suppuration, but also in association with such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple myelomatosis. Since the introduction of many potent antimicrobial agents, such chronic infections are becoming uncommon, and a higher proportion of cases of secondary amyloidosis will be found in association with other conditions. The association of amyloid with rheumatoid arthritis is the most striking. Fingerman and Andrus (1943) found some amyloid deposits in thirteen of 61 autopsies on patients with rheumatoid, and Teilum and Lindahl