Amyloidosis results from accumulation of inappropriately folded proteins, called amyloid. The latter can be histologically dignosed using Congo red stain combined with polarized light on microscopy. Amyloidosis can be systemic or organ-specific, idiopathic or secondary to other chronic diseases. Skeletal involvement, concerning in particular the spine, is often reported in the literature both as solitary amyloidoma, usually with a good prognosis, both as part of a systemic form with visceral involvement, often with an unfavorable prognosis. We describe the clinical case of a patient with systemic amyloidosis with spinal onset.

Case report

In November 2011 a 57-year old man, with a 3 months history of back pain, was admitted at the Emergency Department because of difficulty maintaining upright position. He was admitted in our Department for an incomplete paraplegia with hypertonus, exhaustible bilateral clonus and acute urinary retention. The CT scan and MRI showed a pathological fracture of T7 with the presence of a large soft tissue mass narrowing the spinal canal for more than 50% of its diameter (Figure 1 A-B). Anamnesis was negative for cancer and only revealed a history of HBV-related steatosis. Laboratory tests showed elevation of Ca 19-9 (263.4), Ca 125 (96.1), alkaline phosphatase (199) and γ GT (325); at that time there was no serum monoclonal component. After arteriography and selective embolization (with pathological finding of a modest circle), he underwent urgently to tumor debulking, decompression and stabilization from T5 to T9 (Figure 2 A-B). The decision to proceed with decompression in the absence of histological diagnosis was taken because of the rapid neurological deterioration. The involvement of the whole vertebral body and both the two pedicles didn’t allow an “en bloc” resection, even if required by the oncological criteria based on Enneking proposals and WBB staging system [1,2]. After the procedure patient’s symptoms improved but with incomplete neurological recovery; low back pain persisted. PET-CT scan revealed multiple bone locations without extraskeletal involvement. In L5, in particular, a large soft tissue compressed the dural sac; that was confirmed by MRI (Figure 3). Because of this compression, one month after the first surgery laminectomy was performed, followed by curettage and vertebroplasty of L5. During both surgical procedures a lot of grayish-white and crumbly tissue was collected. Pathological examination showed an amorphous eosinophilic material, positive staining with Congo red, birefringence under polarized light relating to amyloid, with the presence of rare plasma cells.

Figure 1: Axial (A) and sagital (B) computer tomografy images showed a pathological fracture of T7 with a large soft tissue mass narrowing the spinal canal.

Figure 2: Anteroposterior (A) and lateral (B) X-ray images taken 6 months post procedure.

Figure 3: Axial (A) and sagittal (B) magnetic resonance images reveals a large soft tissue compressing the dural sac at L5.

In February 2012 treatment with Bortemozid and Dexamethasone (three cycles) was initiated, without relevant response, and later Cyclophosphamide was associated. The therapy was discontinued in September for worsening of the Sciatica pain with loss of walking ability and the patient was sent to our Department again. MRI showed local recurrence in L4 and L5 with plenty of new tissue in the anterior and posterior position (Figure 4). After embolization, the patient underwent decompression by laminectomy and foraminotomy, followed by vertebral reconstruction by vertebroplasty. The material taken was examined and it resulted to be amyloid protein without cellular component. Blood tests showed an increase of cancer markers (Ca 19-9, Ca 125). It was identified a serum monoclonal component IgGκ with alteration of the relationship κ/λ. No signs of cardiac and renal involvement were detected, but a persistent hepatomegaly was found with subverted echo- structure. The diagnosis was AL Amyloidosis (IgGκ) with bone and probably liver involvement. It was decided to continue treatment with Bortemozid, Cyclophosphamide and Dexamethasone. The patient presented an immediate response of laboratory test results, but he was forced to stop the treatment for two months due to an intercurrent respiratory infection. In the meanwhile, liver infiltration expanded, supporting the diagnosis of systemic visceral amyloidosis. The patient was referred to us again in July 2013, after the resumption of treatment: he complained worsening symptoms, profound fatigue, low chest pain; the neurological objectivity was unchanged. CT scan showed a T11 fracture, probably due to bone weakness. In agreement with oncologists, we recommended a support brace and continuation of drug therapy. The patient died after 3 months because of complications related to the disease and the chemotherapy treatment.

Figure 4: MRI showed local recurrence in L4 and L5 with plenty of new tissue in the posterior (A) and anterior (B) position.

We describe the case of a patient with amyloidosis with acute spinal onset, characterized by pathological fracture and spinal cord compression, initially without apparent visceral involvement. The extracellular amyloidal deposit occurs frequently secondary to many chronic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, sickle cell disease, Hodgkin’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, intravenous drugs abuse, dialysis), configuring the framework of secondary amyloidosis, with variable clinical impact [3-9].

The primitive or idiopathic amyloidosis arises from immunosecretory disorders [10,11], including multiple myeloma with its variants and diseases characterized by deposit of monoclonal Ig. All these pathologies are characterized by the presence of a clone of plasma cells, or plasmacytoid cells, secreting complete Ig or light/heavy chains of Ig, which are phagocytized and fragmented by macrophages and accumulate in the extracellular environment as an insoluble and non-degradable substance (amyloid); these diseases are classified according to the characteristics of the precursor protein [12]. The form that most frequently involves the skeleton is the AL amyloidosis (light chain amyloidosis), that only in 20% of cases is associated with multiple myeloma, although the bone involvement is less frequent in isolated AL Amyloidosis [11,13]. Osteoarticular manifestations are more often arthropathy, polyarthritis (rheumatoyd like bilateral symmetric), carpal tunnel syndrome, less often bone involvement, with preferential localization in the spine [6]. The signs and symptoms of AL Amyloidosis with spinal localization are completely non-specific and tumor-like: bony destruction and compression of neural structures [13,14].

The literature describes several cases of amyloidosis with bone localization: however, these are isolated and solitary forms (“amyloidoma”), which have an excellent prognosis once removed, and represent a disease entity in itself [14-17].

The AL amyloidosis is instead typically systemic, with predominant visceral involvement (kidney, heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract, lung) and unfavorable clinical course if not treated. It presents a monoclonal component in serum or urine in 80-90% of cases [6] and the age of onset ranges between 50-60 years old. Treatment consists of chemotherapy, steroids, autologous blood stem cell transplantation and biologic antiinflammatory drugs as Bortezomib [10]; it is borrowed from the treatment of multiple myeloma, but with higher incidence of complications [12]. AL amyloidosis rarely presents with predominant bone disease, simulating a multiple myeloma [18]; however, in all cases reported, visceral involvement always coexists.

Our patient presented a typical picture of systemic amyloidosis only in the full-blown stage of the disease. At the beginning, in fact, he showed multiple bony vertebral localization with neither systemic involvement nor monoclonal component in serum or urine. Moreover, the detection of some abnormal laboratory findings (high level of CA19-9 and Ca125) could lead one to think of a disease secondary to occult malignancy. In the cases reported by Schonland [18] systemic amyloidosis has a prevalent bone involvement, simulating multiple myeloma, but visceral localization and monoclonal component are present from the beginning.

After few months, clinical findings and laboratory tests became consistent with typical of AL amyloidosis, but with very fast disease progression and poor response to treatment. Decompression and stabilization surgeries improved patient’s quality of life, allowing him to keep walking autonomy until the end and good pain control.