Amyloidosis of the kidneys. Review of patients and literature.
The clinical findings in 49 patients (27 males) who had histologically confirmed amyloidosis of the kidney, are reviewed. In 28 patients, the diagnosis was arrived at by percutaneous renal biopsy, and in 21 patients it was made at autopsy. The youngest patient was diagnosed at the age of 16 years. In 11 patients (22,5%) no associated disease was found, in a further 11 patients the amyloidosis was of the type connected with familial Mediterranean fever, and in 27 patients (55%) the amyloidosis was of the secondary type. Forty-six patients (94%) presented with proteinuria at some stage of their disease. Twenty-one patients developed the nephrotic syndrome. Thirty-two patients died, and in 18 instances uraemia was the cause of death. In 18 patients there was evidence of renal pathology other than amyloidosis, and in some patients this may have contributed to the impairment of renal function and the appearance of proteinuria.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology; D014511:Uremia / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality