eprodisate and Rheumatic-Diseases

Amyloidoses represent an inhomogeneous group of diseases characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils. AA amyloidosis is a serious life-threatening complication of chronic rheumatic diseases responsible for increased mortality due to organ failure or infection. The main component of amyloid is the serum amyloid A precursor protein (SAA) produced by the liver as an acute phase protein. This article presents the pathogenesis of amyloidosis, which is at the core of our understanding of treatment options. Effective anti-inflammatory therapy of rheumatic diseases is the best way to prevent AA amyloidosis. Early detection of this complication leads to treatment that can effectively retard the course of the disease and may even be accompanied by regression of amyloid deposits. New hope is offered by anti-TNF-alpha antibodies or by eprodisate, which blocks the proamyloidogenic interactions of glycosaminoglycans with SAA.

Topics: Amyloidosis; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Early Diagnosis; Humans; Propane; Rheumatic Diseases; Sulfonic Acids; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha