title: Gelsolin-related familial amyloidosis, Finnish type, in a Portuguese family: clinical and neurophysiological studies.
abstract: We report a Portuguese family with familial amyloid polyneuropathy related to gelsolin. There were no known Finnish ancestors, but the same mutation as described in Finnish patients (G654A) was carried. Clinical and neurophysiological investigations were performed in four patients. Corneal lattice dystrophy affected all four patients; an axonal lesion of the facial nerve occurred in three patients; visual tract involvement was documented in one case; and corticospinal and posterior column dysfunction was present in one patient. Polarizing microscopy of skin and muscle samples demonstrated amyloid deposits in two patients; anti-gelsolin immunohistochemistry was positive for amyloidogenic gelsolin. The Finnish mutation of gelsolin protein (G654A) was detected in five family members. The utility of neurophysiological testing in the evaluation and follow-up of this type of amyloidosis is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal. nucnmuschsmix@mail.telepac.pt
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.forename: Maria Lurdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sales-Luis
authors.forename: Mamede
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Carvalho
authors.forename: Teresinha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paunio
authors.forename: Hannele
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kangas
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saraiva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D018260:Gelsolin / Q000235:genetics*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D010375:Pedigree; D011174:Portugal; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018260:Gelsolin; D004247:DNA