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Renal amyloidosis

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

Synonyms and keywords:

Overview

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

Overview

Nicolaus Fontanus was the first to describe amyloidosis based on the result of an autopsy while Rudolph Virchow was the first to introduce the term amyloidosis. Renal amyloidosis can be classified according to the site of amyloid deposition into glomerular, vascular, and tubular amyloidosis. Suggested mechanisms of renal involvement include abnormal protein production or hereditary mutation. If left untreated, renal amyloidosis may progress into end stage renal disease. Common complications include chronic renal failure and nephrotic syndrome. After a few years, renal amyloidosis eventually leads to end stage renal disease and it may be progressed in presence of certain factors such as steroid administration, renal vein thrombosis, infections and surgery. There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for renal amyloidosis. Renal biopsy is the gold standard test for the diagnosis of renal diagnosis. The mainstay of treatment for renal amyloidosis is to decrease the production or increase clearing of amyloid. Pharmacologic medical therapies for renal amyloidosis include colchicine, azathioprine, dimethylsulfoxide, chlorambucil, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide and TNF-alpha antagonists (ie, etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab).

Historical Perspective

Nicolaus Fontanus was the first to describe amyloidosis based on the result of an autopsy while Rudolph Virchow was the first to introduce the term amyloidosis.

Classification

Renal amyloidosis can be classified according to the site of amyloid deposition into glomerular, vascular, and tubular amyloidosis.

Pathophysiology

Suggested mechanisms of renal involvement include abnormal protein production or hereditary mutation.

Causes

Most common causes of renal amyloidosis include primary and secondary amyloidosis. Other causes include transthyretin and fibrinogen amyloid deposition.

Differentiating Renal amyloidosis from Other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

The incidence is 97 to 140 cases per 100,000 individuals. The incidence of renal amyloidosis increases with age; the median age at diagnosis is 65 years.

Risk Factors

Common risk factors in the development of renal amyloidosis may be environmental and genetic such as heterozygous mutations in the genes for lysozyme, apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein AII, or fibrinogen A alpha-chain.

Screening

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for renal amyloidosis.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

If left untreated, renal amyloidosis may progress into end stage renal disease. Common complications include chronic renal failure and nephrotic syndrome. After a few years, renal amyloidosis eventually leads to end stage renal disease and it may be accelerated by some factors such as steroid administration, renal vein thrombosis, infections and surgery.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Study of Choice

Renal biopsy is the gold standard test for the diagnosis of renal diagnosis

History and Symptoms

The majority of patients with renal amyloidosis have proteinuria. Swelling is very common in lower limbs. Numbness or tingling in hands or feet (carpal tunnel syndrome) is a less common finding.

Physical Examination

Physical examination of patients with renal amyloidosis is usually remarkable for swelling, hepatosplenomegaly, facial or neck purpura and macroglossia. Fatigue and unintentional weight loss, are common in patients with AL amyloidosis. Tachycardia/bradycardia depends on the accompanying complication. Pulmonary fine crackles, faint pulmonary auscultation, suggestive of pleural effusion, decreased tactile fremitus and dull percussion.

Laboratory Findings

In patients with secondary amyloidosis, urinalysis should be routinely examined. Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of renal amyloidosis include proteinuria and increased serum creatinine

Electrocardiogram

There are no ECG findings associated with renal amyloidosis.

X-ray

There are no definitive findings on x-ray associated with renal amyloidosis.

Echocardiography and Ultrasound

There are no echocardiography/ultrasound findings associated with renal amyloidosis

CT scan

There are no CT scan findings associated with renal amyloidosis

MRI

There are no MRI findings associated with renal amyloidosis.

Other Imaging Findings

There are no other imaging findings associated with renal amyloidosis

Other Diagnostic Studies

Kidney biopsy can represent amyloid deposition as vascular, tubulo-interstitial and/or glomerular deposits. All types of amyloidogenic proteins show affinity for Congo red dye.

Treatment

Medical Therapy

The mainstay of treatment for renal amyloidosis is to decrease the production or increase clearing of amyloid. Pharmacologic medical therapies for renal amyloidosis include colchicine, azathioprine, dimethylsulfoxide, chlorambucil, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide and TNF-alpha antagonists (ie, etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab).

Surgery

In renal amyloidosis, surgery is usually reserved for patients developed with end stage renal disease. The patients with renal amyloidosis are good candidates for transplantation. In primary amyloidosis, renal transplantation is considered and it will improve long-term survival and quality of life.

Primary Prevention

There are no established measures for the primary prevention of renal amyloidosis.

Secondary Prevention

Treatment of the primary disease and underlying cause will provide favorable renal outcome. Template:WikiDoc Sources

Historical Perspective

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

Overview

Nicolaus Fontanus was the first to describe amyloidosis based on the result of an autopsy while Rudolph Virchow was the first to intoduce the term amyloidosis.

Historical Perspective

  • In 1969, Finnish-type familial amyloidosis (FAF) was first described as one of the causes of renal amyloidosis.[3]

References

  1. Kyle RA (June 2011). “Amyloidosis: a brief history”. Amyloid. 18 Suppl 1: 6–7. doi:10.3109/13506129.2011.574354001. PMID 21838413.
  2. Sipe JD, Cohen AS (June 2000). “Review: history of the amyloid fibril”. J. Struct. Biol. 130 (2–3): 88–98. doi:10.1006/jsbi.2000.4221. PMID 10940217.
  3. Yamanaka S, Miyazaki Y, Kasai K, Ikeda S, Kiuru-Enari S, Hosoya T (April 2013). “Hereditary renal amyloidosis caused by a heterozygous G654A gelsolin mutation: a report of two cases”. Clin Kidney J. 6 (2): 189–93. doi:10.1093/ckj/sft007. PMC 4432447. PMID 26019848.

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Classification

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

Overview

Renal amyloidosis can be classified according to the site of amyloid deposition into glomerular, vascular, and tubular amyloidosis.

Classification

Renal amyloidosis may be classified according to site of amyloid deposition into 3 subtypes:[1]

  • Glomerular amyloid deposition (more common and have a poorer prognosis)
  • Vascular amyloid deposition
  • Tubular amyloid deposition

Renal amyloidosis may be classified according to type of amyloidogenic protein into 3 subtypes:[2]

Amyloidosis type Amyloidogenic protein
Common types AL/AHL/AH

(Primary amyloidosis)

Ig light chains (AL)
Fragments of Ig heavy chains and light chains (AHL)
Fragments of heavy chains only (AH)
AA

(Secondary amyloidosis)

Serum amyloid A
Rare types AFib Fibrinogen A α chain
AApo AI/AII/AIV Apo AI, Apo AII, or Apo AIV
ATTR Transthyretin
ALys Lysozyme
AGel Gelsolin
ALECT2 Leukocyte chemotactic factor 2

References

  1. Bilginer Y, Akpolat T, Ozen S (August 2011). “Renal amyloidosis in children”. Pediatr. Nephrol. 26 (8): 1215–27. doi:10.1007/s00467-011-1797-x. PMC 3119800. PMID 21360109.
  2. Said SM, Sethi S, Valeri AM, Leung N, Cornell LD, Fidler ME, Herrera Hernandez L, Vrana JA, Theis JD, Quint PS, Dogan A, Nasr SH (September 2013). “Renal amyloidosis: origin and clinicopathologic correlations of 474 recent cases”. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 8 (9): 1515–23. doi:10.2215/CJN.10491012. PMC 3805078. PMID 23704299.

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Pathophysiology

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

Overview

The kidney is the most involved organ in systemic amyloiosis. Suggested mechanisms of renal involvement include abnormal protein production or hereditary mutation.

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis

  • In systemic amyloidosis (AL/AH/AHL is much more common than AA) kidney is the most frequently involved organ.[1]
  • In renal amyloidosis, the mechanisms of amyloidogenesis may include:[2]
    • Abnormal protein production
    • Overproduction wild-type proteins
    • Decreased excretion of wild-type proteins
    • Hereditary mutation
  • In multiple myeloma, the cast nephropathy in distal tubules of nephrons results in renal impairment and deposition of AL amyloid protein in glomeruli can cause massive fibrillar involvement.[3]

Genetics

Hereditary amyloidosis due to amyloidogenic mutations:[4]

Associated Conditions

Gross Pathology

On gross pathology, amyloid looks “waxy” or “lardaceous” [7]

Microscopic Pathology

Microscopic Pathology of all types of amyloid after Congo red dye staining include: [2]

  • Orange-red appearance by normal light microscopy
  • Apple-green birefringence upon polarized light

For more general information about amyloidosis, click here.

References

  1. Said SM, Sethi S, Valeri AM, Leung N, Cornell LD, Fidler ME, Herrera Hernandez L, Vrana JA, Theis JD, Quint PS, Dogan A, Nasr SH (September 2013). “Renal amyloidosis: origin and clinicopathologic correlations of 474 recent cases”. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 8 (9): 1515–23. doi:10.2215/CJN.10491012. PMC 3805078. PMID 23704299.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Khalighi MA, Dean Wallace W, Palma-Diaz MF (April 2014). “Amyloid nephropathy”. Clin Kidney J. 7 (2): 97–106. doi:10.1093/ckj/sfu021. PMC 4377792. PMID 25852856.
  3. Hajra A, Bandyopadhyay D (2016). “An interesting case of renal amyloidosis”. Indian J Nephrol. 26 (6): 467–469. doi:10.4103/0971-4065.177143. PMC 5131391. PMID 27942184.
  4. Mahmood S, Palladini G, Sanchorawala V, Wechalekar A (February 2014). “Update on treatment of light chain amyloidosis”. Haematologica. 99 (2): 209–21. doi:10.3324/haematol.2013.087619. PMC 3912950. PMID 24497558.
  5. Ghiso J, Frangione B (December 2002). “Amyloidosis and Alzheimer’s disease”. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 54 (12): 1539–51. PMID 12453671.
  6. Head E, Lott IT (April 2004). “Down syndrome and beta-amyloid deposition”. Curr. Opin. Neurol. 17 (2): 95–100. PMID 15021233.
  7. Kyle RA (September 2001). “Amyloidosis: a convoluted story”. Br. J. Haematol. 114 (3): 529–38. PMID 11552976.

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Causes

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

Overview

The exact cause of renal amyloidiosis has not been identified. Most commonly causes of majority of the cases in renal amyloidosis idiopathic. Other causes include amyloidosis secondary to diseases such as tuberculosis, familial Mediterranean fever, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma or amyloidic mutations of transthyretin and fibrinogen protein.

Causes

Common Causes

In renal amyloidosis, most common causes include:[1]

Less Common Causes

In renal amyloidosis, less common causes include:[2]

References

  1. Said SM, Sethi S, Valeri AM, Leung N, Cornell LD, Fidler ME, Herrera Hernandez L, Vrana JA, Theis JD, Quint PS, Dogan A, Nasr SH (September 2013). “Renal amyloidosis: origin and clinicopathologic correlations of 474 recent cases”. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 8 (9): 1515–23. doi:10.2215/CJN.10491012. PMC 3805078. PMID 23704299.
  2. Mahmood S, Palladini G, Sanchorawala V, Wechalekar A (February 2014). “Update on treatment of light chain amyloidosis”. Haematologica. 99 (2): 209–21. doi:10.3324/haematol.2013.087619. PMC 3912950. PMID 24497558.

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Differentiating Renal amyloidosis from other Diseases

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

Overview

Differentiating [Disease name] from other Diseases

[Disease name] must be differentiated from other diseases that cause [clinical feature 1], [clinical feature 2], and [clinical feature 3], such as [differential dx1], [differential dx2], and [differential dx3].

OR

[Disease name] must be differentiated from [differential dx1], [differential dx2], and [differential dx3].

OR

As [disease name] manifests in a variety of clinical forms, differentiation must be established in accordance with the particular subtype. [Subtype name 1] must be differentiated from other diseases that cause [clinical feature 1], such as [differential dx1] and [differential dx2]. In contrast, [subtype name 2] must be differentiated from other diseases that cause [clinical feature 2], such as [differential dx3] and [differential dx4].

Differentiating [disease name] from other diseases on the basis of [symptom 1], [symptom 2], and [symptom 3]

On the basis [symptom 1], [symptom 2], and [symptom 3], [disease name] must be differentiated from [disease 1], [disease 2], [disease 3], [disease 4], [disease 5], and [disease 6].

Diseases Clinical manifestations Para-clinical findings Gold standard Additional findings
Symptoms Physical examination
Lab Findings Imaging Histopathology
Symptom 1 Symptom 2 Symptom 3 Physical exam 1 Physical exam 2 Physical exam 3 Lab 1 Lab 2 Lab 3 Imaging 1 Imaging 2 Imaging 3
Differential Diagnosis 1
Differential Diagnosis 2
Differential Diagnosis 3
Diseases Symptom 1 Symptom 2 Symptom 3 Physical exam 1 Physical exam 2 Physical exam 3 Lab 1 Lab 2 Lab 3 Imaging 1 Imaging 2 Imaging 3 Histopathology Gold standard Additional findings
Differential Diagnosis 4
Differential Diagnosis 5
Differential Diagnosis 6

References

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Epidemiology and Demographics

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

Overview

The incidence is 0.97 to 1.4 cases per 100,000 person-years. The prevalence of AL amyloidosis was 40.5 in 2015, an annual percentage change (APC) of 12%. In renal amyloidosis, is usually first diagnosed in average age of 65 years and it is uncommon before age of 40.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Incidence

The incidence is 0.97 to 1.4 cases per 100,000 person-years.[1]

Prevalence

The prevalence of AL amyloidosis was 40.5 in 2015, an annual percentage change (APC) of 12%. [1]

Mortality rate

  • AL has higher mortality than AA type[2]

Age

  • The incidence of renal amyloidosis increases with age; the median age at diagnosis is 65 years.[3][4]

Race

  • There is no racial predilection to renal amyloidosis.

Gender

  • Males are are more commonly affected by renal amyloidosis.
  • The male to female ratio is approximately 2 to 1.[3]

Region

  • ALECT2 is more frequent in the United States area.[5]
  • AFib cases are most reported in Europe countries.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Quock TP, Yan T, Chang E, Guthrie S, Broder MS (May 2018). “Epidemiology of AL amyloidosis: a real-world study using US claims data”. Blood Adv. 2 (10): 1046–1053. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2018016402. PMC 5965052. PMID 29748430.
  2. Bollée G, Guery B, Joly D, Snanoudj R, Terrier B, Allouache M, Mercadal L, Peraldi MN, Viron B, Fumeron C, Elie C, Fakhouri F (March 2008). “Presentation and outcome of patients with systemic amyloidosis undergoing dialysis”. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 3 (2): 375–81. doi:10.2215/CJN.02470607. PMC 2390937. PMID 18184882.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Khalighi MA, Dean Wallace W, Palma-Diaz MF (April 2014). “Amyloid nephropathy”. Clin Kidney J. 7 (2): 97–106. doi:10.1093/ckj/sfu021. PMC 4377792. PMID 25852856.
  4. Hajra A, Bandyopadhyay D (2016). “An interesting case of renal amyloidosis”. Indian J Nephrol. 26 (6): 467–469. doi:10.4103/0971-4065.177143. PMC 5131391. PMID 27942184.
  5. Said SM, Sethi S, Valeri AM, Leung N, Cornell LD, Fidler ME, Herrera Hernandez L, Vrana JA, Theis JD, Quint PS, Dogan A, Nasr SH (September 2013). “Renal amyloidosis: origin and clinicopathologic correlations of 474 recent cases”. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 8 (9): 1515–23. doi:10.2215/CJN.10491012. PMC 3805078. PMID 23704299.

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Risk Factors

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

Overview

Common risk factors in the development of renal amyloidosis include genetic mutations such as heterozygous mutations in the genes for lysozyme, apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein AII, or fibrinogen A alpha-chain.

Risk Factors

The most potent risk factor in the development of renal amyloidosis are genetic mutations which include:[1][2]

References

  1. Obici L, Raimondi S, Lavatelli F, Bellotti V, Merlini G (October 2009). “Susceptibility to AA amyloidosis in rheumatic diseases: a critical overview”. Arthritis Rheum. 61 (10): 1435–40. doi:10.1002/art.24735. PMID 19790131.
  2. Booth DR, Booth SE, Gillmore JD, Hawkins PN, Pepys MB (December 1998). “SAA1 alleles as risk factors in reactive systemic AA amyloidosis”. Amyloid. 5 (4): 262–5. PMID 10036584.

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Screening

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

Overview

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for renal amyloidosis.

Screening

There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for renal amyloidosis.

References

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Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

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

Overview

If left untreated, renal amyoidosis may progress into end stage renal disease. Common complications include chronic renal failure and nephrotic syndrome. After a few years, renal amyloidosis eventually leads to end stage renal disease and it may be accelerated by some factors such as steroid administration, renal vein thrombos, iInfections and surgery.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History

If renal amyloidosis left untreated it usually manifests as nephrotic range proteinuria and then progresses to acute kidney injury and then end stage renal disease.[1]

Complications

Common complications of renal amyloidosis include:[2][3]

  • ESRD
  • Systemic organ involvement

Prognosis

After a few years, renal amyloidosis eventually leads to end stage renal disease. Disease progression is worsened in presence of certain factors such as:[4]

References

  1. Lohani S, Schuiteman E, Garg L, Yadav D, Zarouk S (2016). “Apolipoprotein C-II Deposition Amyloidosis: A Potential Misdiagnosis as Light Chain Amyloidosis”. Case Rep Nephrol. 2016: 8690642. doi:10.1155/2016/8690642. PMC 5093243. PMID 27840752.
  2. Bilginer Y, Akpolat T, Ozen S (August 2011). “Renal amyloidosis in children”. Pediatr. Nephrol. 26 (8): 1215–27. doi:10.1007/s00467-011-1797-x. PMC 3119800. PMID 21360109.
  3. Hajra A, Bandyopadhyay D (2016). “An interesting case of renal amyloidosis”. Indian J Nephrol. 26 (6): 467–469. doi:10.4103/0971-4065.177143. PMC 5131391. PMID 27942184.
  4. Kaaroud H, Ben Moussa F, Goucha R, Abderrahim E, Ben Hamida F, Ben Hamida F, Ben Hamida F, Kheder A, Ben Miaz H (May 1999). “Influence of surgery on renal amyloidosis”. Kidney Int. 55 (5): 2117–2133. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1755.1999.00455.x. PMID 10231478.

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Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Study of Choice | History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Electrocardiogram | Chest X Ray | Echocardiography or Ultrasound | CT | MRI | Other Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Surgery | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case Studies

Case #1


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