Causes of Death in Autopsied Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Japan

AA-amyloidosis is caused by sustained elevation of serum amyloid A and prolonged inflammation. Although AA-amyloidosis used to be a major cause of death in patients with RA, the incidence of this complication seems to have declined recently [4,5]. Widespread use of Methotrexate (MTX) and the appearance of biologics have changed the treatment of RA. Consequently, complete control of inflammation in RA is becoming more realistic, thereby affecting mortality, causes of death, and complications (e.g., amyloidosis) in RA patients [6,7]. In support of this hypothesis, recent reports have shown improved survival in RA patients treated with MTX or biologics [8].