Primary amyloidosis historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shaghayegh Habibi, M.D.[2]

In 1639, Nicolaus Fontanus autopsied a young man who had ascites, jaundice, liver abscess, and splenomegaly and his report has been the first description of amyloidosis. There is no significant data regarding the historical perspective of amyloidosis throughout the 18th century. Rudolph Virchow and Weber are the prominent figures with substantial work on amyloidosis during the 19th century. In 1922, Bennhold introduced Congo Red staining of amyloid that remains the gold standard for diagnosis.

• In 1639, Nicolaus Fontanus autopsied a young man who had ascites, jaundice, liver abscess, and splenomegaly and his report has been the first description of amyloidosis.^[1]
• In 1854, Rudolph Virchow introduced the term “amyloid” as a macroscopic abnormality in some tissues.^[2]
• In 1867, Weber reported the first case of amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma.^[1]
• In 1922, Bennhold introduced Congo Red staining of amyloid that remains the gold standard for diagnosis.^[3]
• In 1959, Cohen and Calkins used ultrathin sections of amyloidotic tissues and assessed by electron microscopy, explained the presence of non-branching fibrils with indeterminate length and variable width.^[2][1]

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