Rheumatoid arthritis associated with renal amyloidosis and crescentic glomerulonephritis.

A 43-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), renal amyloidosis and crescentic glomerulonephritis had severe abdominal pain, melena and progressive renal failure. Autopsy findings revealed vasculitis of small and middle size of vessels and there was a deposition of amyloid in the small intestines. Although there were no findings of vasculitis in the kidney, amyloid deposition was noticed and 70-80% of glomeruli showed a crescentic formation. No immunological abnormality was found in glomeruli. Although the immunological mechanisms of crescentic glomerulonephritis were not necessarily eliminated, amyloid deposition may play a role in crescent formation.