Amyloidosis-induced gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with multiple myeloma

We present a case of multiple myeloma (MM) complicated by recurrent amyloid osis-induced gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient presented with episodes of coffee-ground vomitus or massive hematochezia. No bleeding focus could be identified using endoscopy, a red blood cell scan, or angiography. Final ly, a tissue biopsy taken at the irregular mucosa beside protruding vessels in the duodenum confirmed the diagnosis of gastrointestinal amyloidosis. A s this case illustrates, the absence of systemic symptoms of amyloidosis an d nonspecific endoscopic findings in gastrointestinal amyloidosis may make diagnosis difficult. Therefore, we recommend that a diagnosis of amyloidosi s-induced gastrointestinal bleeding should be considered in patients with M M with an obscure hemorrhage.