Amyloidosis: Clinical course, Symptoms and Signs, Diagnosis and Prognosis of the disease

Amyloidosis may be found without clinical manifestations or may be fatal. This depends about the degree od deposit and the site affected.Renal amyloidosis cause proteinuria in 80% of cases .In 35-50% of cases it is in he nephrotic range .In some cases it is more than 10 gm/day. Carrdiac amyloidosis may cause congestive heart failure or conduction disturbances and arrythmia which may be fatal or constrictive pericarditis. GIT amyloidosis may cause enlargement of the tongue which hamper speach and cause discomfort. Dagnosis can be made by renal biopsy in cases with renal manifestations. Rectal or gingival biopsy in cases with systemic amyloidosis. Radiolabelled SAP is rapid and specific test for diagnosis and follow up of patients under treatment. Urine electrophoresis and imunoelectrophoresis in immunocyte dyscariasis are important tests. Serum creatinine may be increased. Prognosis of patients with systemoc amyloidosis is poor. Those with multiple myeloma have the poorest prognosis. Those with secondary amyloidosis have somewhat better prognosis depending upon treatment of the associated condition,