Amyloidosis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Surprisingly little has been written about the association of amyloidosis with inflammatory bowel disease. On reviewing the literature it appears that there is a correlation between amyloidosis and Crohn's disease, but little definitive evidence of such a relationship with ulcerative colitis could be found. No specific features emerge as aetiological factors in the amyloidosis of inflammatory bowel disease. The amyloidosis may arise after only a short duration of bowel disease, and there is evidence that the association may be commoner than is realized. The need for a prospective systematic search in a large number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease is emphasized.