Secondary amyloidosis in ulcerative colitis

A 20 year old male patient with a four-years-history of moderately active ulcerative colitis was admitted due to extensive generalized edema. He suffered from a nephrotic syndrome, which was caused by secondary renal amyloidosis due to the colitis. Under continuous low dose therapy with colchicine in addition to the usual colitis therapy proteinuria decreased from values above 10 g/die to about 3 g/die and edema disappeared completely. Secondary amyloidosis following inflammatory bowel disease is a rare event, in case of ulcerative colitis a true curiosity. Cases published so far are discussed.