SYSTEMIC AMYLOIDOSIS: FINDING ON AUTOPSY. REPORT OF TWO CASES (IN SPANISH)

Abstract

Introduction: amyloidosis is the extracellular accumulation of amyloid material, which causes damage in the functioning of organs and tissues. It is characterized by the presence of protein folding, which acquire the capacity of self-assembly creating unusual configurations. Case reports: the case reports of two female patients are presented. Both with 47 years of age, who died without clinical diagnosis. Due to not evident cause of the deaths, clinical autopsies were carried out. Massive presence of amyloid in different organs was found, which was confirmed with the Congo red staining method and the assessment in the polarized light microscopy. Multiple organ dysfunction syndromes secondary to the presence of systemic amyloidosis was diagnosed and in both patients was considered as the cause of death. Conclusion: the clinical symptoms of the amyloidosis are variable and nonspecific, depending of the extracellular deposits and its location in the body. It is a challenge to do a diagnosis. It is recommended to consider the diagnostic possibility of the amyloidosis in patients with suggestive symptoms of damage in the function of the organ and it is required the histological confirmation. Rev. cienc.biomed. 2014;5(1):123-129 KEYWORDS Amyloid, Amyloid beta-protein precursor, Amyloidosis, Autopsy