Case Report

Bone Marrow Amyloidosis with Erythropoietin-resistant Anemia in a Patient Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis Treatment

Authors: Ramazan Çetinkaya, MD, Ali Riza Odabas, MD, Yilmaz Selcuk, MD, Zekai Erman, MD, Hasan Kaya, MD

Abstract

The resistance to erythropoietin, which is used to treat normochromic, normocytic anemia in chronic renal failure, can develop in patients with conditions such as iron deficiency, aluminum toxicity, hyperparathyroidism, chronic inflammatory diseases, and primary hematological disorders. We found amyloidosis in the bone marrow of a woman without any other etiology for erythropoietin resistance who was undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Her anemia did not improve, despite 6 months of erythropoietin therapy. Bone marrow amyloidosis was found to be the reason for erythropoietin-resistant anemia in our patient with chronic renal failure and renal anemia. We present the case of bone marrow amyloidosis because it is a very rare cause of erythropoietin resistance.

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