[Diagnostic strategy in amyloidosis].
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis of amyloidosis is a four-step strategy requiring: 1) a high degree of suspicion, as the clinical presentation of the disease is very polymorphous; 2) the biochemical nature of the disease; 3) the evaluation of the disease spread and 4) how it evolves.


METHODS
Simple and noninvasive biopsies usually make it possible to diagnose amyloidosis. Available treatments of generalized amyloidosis require an exact characterization of the nature of amyloid deposits, which is based on the clinical context, immunohistochemical analysis of amyloid deposits, and genetic testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Management of amyloidosis should be improved by better characterization of amyloid deposits. This would result in epidemiological data which are currently lacking.
Grateau
G
G
Service de médecine interne, L'Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, France.
Lebrazi
H
H
Valleix
S
S
Hachulla
E
E
Delpech
M
M
Saïle
R
R
D000682:Amyloid / Q000032:analysis*; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011379:Prognosis
D000682:Amyloid