Amyloid Polyneuropathy

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Abstract
This is a report of 3 cases of chronic progressive sensory motor polyneuropathy associated with proven primary amyloid disease. The patients were all in the 5th decade and all presented a similar picture of involvement of several systems. All of the patients complained of hoarseness , and examination of the larynx in 2 of the patients revealed a thickening of the vocal cords and amber discoloration in one and laryngeal polyps in another (which on biopsy revealed an amyloid tumor). All the patients revealed evidence of cardiac involvement; one had congestive heart failure; the others showed non-specific ecg changes. All of the patients revealed a symmetrical relentlessly progressing polyneuropathy with onset in the lower extremities, but soon involving also the upper extremities. Diagnosis of amyloid disease was confirmed in one on autopsy. Diagnosis in the others required repeated biopsies and detailed study of biopsy material. It is concluded that a clinical diagnosis of amyloid polyneuropathy of the non-familial type can be made on the basis of chronic progressive polyneuropathy associated with cardiac involvement and hoarseness.

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