May Case of the Month
Clinical History:
43-year-old male with a chronic history of dysesthesias and hypesthesias in all extremities. He has a chronic disease of which the most important findings are liver failure and decreased vision. Several members of his family had a similar history.
View Diagnosis
Primary Diagnosis
Familial amyloid polyneuropathy.Secondary Diagnosis
spinal canal, spinal cord, subarachnoid spaceDiagnosis Discussion
Familial amyloid polyneuropathy: Deposition of amyloid in pial/subarachnoid arteries & arterioles results in destruction of the blood-cord-barrier sensory nerves & unmyelinated fibers most affected Precursors of FAP are metabolized by liver, thus liver transplantation is useful. Amyloidosis of the spinal cord predominantly involves the arteries in the subarachnoid spaceGeneral Anatomic Area:
OtherSecondary Anatomic Area:
spinal canal, spinal cord, subarachnoid spaceDisease Category:
MetabolicContributor:
Maurice Castillo, MDDate:
05/01/2005Difficulty Level:
DifficultPathology Confirmed?:
YesClick here for more info