# A Case of Amyloid Light-Chain Amyloidosis Presenting as Colitis

## TL;DR

This paper describes a rare and fatal case of amyloid light-chain amyloidosis that initially presented as gastrointestinal symptoms and quickly worsened.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in reporting a fatal case with initial gastrointestinal presentation and rapid progression to systemic failure.

## Key findings

- The patient presented with gastrointestinal symptoms as the initial manifestation of systemic amyloidosis.
- The condition rapidly progressed to renal failure and pericardial effusion.
- The case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing amyloidosis due to its varied and non-specific symptoms.

## Abstract

Gastrointestinal amyloidosis is a rare but often a manifestation of an advanced form of systemic amyloidosis that carries a poor prognosis. Its presentation may mimic ischemic bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or protein-losing enteropathy, among others. Often, varied presentations make it difficult to diagnose. Hence, a careful and systematic approach with an aggressive treatment strategy is needed for prompt diagnosis and treatment of the fatal condition. Here, we report a fatal case of systemic amyloidosis (amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis) with its initial presentation including gastrointestinal symptoms and subsequent rapid clinical deterioration due to worsening renal function and evidence of pericardial effusion.