[Amyloidoses]

Abstract

Amyloidoses make up a group of diseases caused by misfolded proteins. These misfolded proteins are insoluble and are deposited in various tissues and organs, ultimately resulting in severe organ dysfunction. The majority of patients with amlyoidoses suffer from chronic inflammatory, infectious or malignant diseases. Moreover, unexplained nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, neuropathy, enteropathy, arthropathy or macroglossia with or without periorbital bleeding should include an amyloidosis in the differential diagnosis. The latter is facilitated by histological examination of abdominal adipose tissue, the rectum or affected organs. Therapy focuses predominantly on reduction of activity of the underlying disease and specific organ protection. More recent therapeutic strategies include interleukin-1 inhibition, as well as inhibitors of protein misfolding.