AMYLOID AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS-SYSTEM DISEASE

The peripheral nervous system can be involved in the following amyloid deposition diseases. (1) Amyloid deposition composed of beta2-microglobulin in patients on long term hemodialysis causing a carpal tunnel syndrome; (2) deposition of light chain immunoglobulin derived amyloid leading to polyneuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome and autonomic nervous system involvement in patients with primary amyloidosis, or amyloidosis secondary to or associated with multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and solid neoplasms like hypernephroma; and (3) several types of heredofamilial amyloid polyneuropathies, which are mainly caused by a point-mutation in the transthyretin gene on chromosome 18. The clinical and biochemical features of these three groups will be discussed, with special attention for recently developed therapy. In clinical practice, amyloid polyneuropathy should be considered in case of familial occurrence of a polyneuropathy and when a patient presents with a polyneuropathy and a monoclonal gammopathy.