Spinal claudication in systemic amyloidosis.
We describe a patient with hereditary amyloidosis who developed the syndrome of spinal claudication. Myelography and computerized tomography of the lumbar spine demonstrated stenosis of the spinal canal and surgical exploration confirmed dense amyloid infiltration of ligamentous structures compressing the nerve roots. Two cousins of our patient and 2 patients with immunoglobulin amyloidosis had similar clinical syndromes. Spinal stenosis can be demonstrated by myelography or by computerized tomography. Diagnosis of this syndrome is important since wide decompression may be needed to relieve symptoms. Patients who had only disc extraction did not improve after the operation; their symptoms persisted and even worsened.
Department of Medicine, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis.
N
N
Harats
R
R
Worth
M D
MD
Benson
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008124:Locomotion; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed