Tissue biopsy for the diagnosis of amyloidosis: experience from some centres

Abstract

A reliable diagnosis of amyloidosis is usually based on a tissue biopsy. With increasing options for specific treatments of the different amyloid diseases, an exact and valid diagnosis including determination of the biochemical fibril nature is imperative. Biopsy sites as well as amyloid typing principles vary and this paper describes methods employed at some laboratories specialised in amyloidosis in Europe, Japan and USA.

Keywords: Amyloid; immunohistochemistry; mass spectrometry; method.