What type of amyloidosis is AA amyloidosis most commonly associated with?

AA amyloidosis, also known as secondary amyloidosis, is most commonly associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. This includes various inflammatory arthropathies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In these conditions, prolonged inflammation leads to the overproduction of serum amyloid A protein, which then misfolds and aggregates into amyloid deposits, primarily affecting organs such as the kidneys, liver, and spleen.

Understanding the pathophysiology of AA amyloidosis highlights its relationship with chronic inflammation, which distinguishes it from other types of amyloidosis that may be linked to different underlying causes, such as hereditary factors (as seen in AL amyloidosis) or metabolic disorders. This makes the association with inflammatory arthropathies and inflammatory bowel disease a crucial point in recognizing and diagnosing AA amyloidosis.