Abstract:
Background. For individuals with rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), amyloidosis—a serious condition caused by abnormal
protein deposits in tissues—has been a concern. However,
advancements in RA treatment over the past 30 years, including biologics and improved DMARDs, may have reduced
its prevalence in this population. Objective. The purpose of
this study is to examine the patterns in the occurrence of
amyloidosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients over the past
30 years and evaluate the impact of changing treatment approaches. Material and methods. The systematic analysis
of the specialized literature published between 1994-2024
was carried out using PubMed search engine and Research
Gate network. Results. Over the course of three decades, the
study found a significant decrease in the incidence of amyloidosis among people with RA. Between the 1990s and the
2010s, the incidence rate dropped from 3.2 per 1,000 person-years to 1.1 per 1,000 person-years. The earlier, more intensive treatment of RA and the rising usage of biologic
DMARDs were highly connected with this reduction. Patients on biologic treatments had a 60% lower risk of developing amyloidosis than those on standard DMARDs alone,
according to subgroup analysis. Conclusion. Over the past
30 years, there has been a notable decline in the prevalence
of amyloidosis in people with rheumatoid arthritis. This decline has coincided with breakthroughs in the treatment of
RA, most notably the advent and widespread use of biologic
therapy. These results emphasize how crucial it is to treat
RA aggressively and early in order to lower the likelihood
of major side effects like amyloidosis. To maintain and expand on this encouraging trend, future research should concentrate on ongoing surveillance and therapeutic strategy
optimization.
