GASTRIC AND DUODENAL AMYLOIDOSIS IN AN HIV-INFECTED PATIENT: A CASE REPORT AND A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

We report the case of a 38-year-old female with gastrointestinal amyloidosis who presented with acute abdominal pain. The computed tomography scan showed that the patient had generalized lymphadenopathy. This clinical picture with absolute leukocytosis was interpreted as an acute secondary bacterial process of unspecified etiology with generalized lymphadenopathy. The patient was administered a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug and detoxication therapy. The upper endoscopy revealed bleeding of unknown origin. After a 2-day conservative hemostatic therapy, gastric tumor involvement was suggested during control endoscopy. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies were found with the following confirmation of their specificity by immunoblotting. Histopathological study of the biopsy specimens made it possible to diagnose gastrointestinal AA/AL-amyloidosis complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding.

Keywords: gastric tumor; HIV infection; abdominal pain; gastric amyloidosis; gastrointestinal bleeding.