Massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a case of amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis

A case of a 60-year-old woman with secondary gastrointestinal amyloidosis t o rheumatoid arthritis is reported. Biopsy findings in the mucosa of the st omach and lower gastrointestinal tract revealed amyloidosis. Endoscopic exa mination of the lower gastrointestinal tract revealed multiple nodular elev ations. The patient showed massive melena. Emergency angiography was perfor med and an extravasation was found at branches of the jejunal artery. Embol ization was performed and this lead to a good prognosis. Patients with mass ive hemorrhages following gastrointestinal amyloidosis generally have a poo rer prognosis. Embolotherapy performed for the present case might represent an effective therapeutic method for gastrointestinal hemorrhage in gastroi ntestinal amyloidosis.