Chronic diarrhea as the initial clinical manifestation of light-chain amyloidosis with cardiac involvement despite negative duodenal and rectal biopsies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Christian Pfluecke - , Medical clinic with a focus on cardiology (at the Heart Center) (Author)
  • Stefan Ulbrich - , Medical clinic with a focus on cardiology (at the Heart Center) (Author)
  • Karim Ibrahim - , Medical clinic with a focus on cardiology (at the Heart Center) (Author)
  • Kathrin D. Geiger - , Institute of Pathology (Author)
  • Ruth H. Strasser - , Medical clinic with a focus on cardiology (at the Heart Center) (Author)
  • Carsten Wunderlich - , Medical clinic with a focus on cardiology (at the Heart Center) (Author)

Abstract

Early and accurate diagnosis and a prompt initiation of treatment are critical for the prognosis of light-chain amyloidosis. The present article describes a case involving a 62-year-old patient who experienced unexplained, chronic diarrhea with negative duodenal and rectal biopsies. Serum immunofixation, a free light-chain assay, electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed after the patient developed syncope. The results of these diagnostic investigations showed characteristic signs of systemic amyloidosis. Cardiac and bone marrow biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of systemic light-chain amyloidosis. The chronic diarrhea was found to be due to an autonomic neuropathy of the enteric nervous system.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)148-150
Number of pages3
JournalExperimental and Clinical Cardiology
Volume18
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Amyloidosis, Chronic diarrhea, Diastolic heart failure, Infiltrative cardiomyopathy, Peripheral neuropathy, Smoldering plasmacytoma