title: [Primary amyloidosis associated with kappa light chain myeloma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical spectrum of plasma cell dyscrasias includes primary amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. These two entities are present at the time of diagnosis in 10 percent of cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 72 years old female was admitted to our Institution with oligoanuric renal failure. Renal ultrasonography revealed normal kidney dimensions, with a slight decrease in the normal parenchyma-sinus differentiation. The complementary study identified free kappa light chains in urine (73,9 mg/dL) and bone marrow study fulfilled the criteria for multiple myeloma. Search for amyloid fibrils in abdominal subcutaneous fat was positive. The serum beta-2 microglobulin level was elevated (26 mg/L). Transthoracic echocardiogram did not reveal pathologic findings. Treatment initiation was complicated by hemodialysis catheter-associated Staphylococcus aureus infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary amyloidosis associated with light chain myeloma is a rare, and often late, diagnosis with a dismal prognosis. Renal failure is a frequent initial presentation of the disease and infection an important cause of death.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Endocrinologia, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Porto.
authors.forename: Raquel G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roncon-Albuquerque
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frazão
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Von Hafe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains