Publication
Title
Intestinal involvement in amyloidosis is a sequential process
Author
Abstract
Background Gastrointestinal amyloidosis causes dysmotility. A comprehensive histological analysis to explain these symptoms is lacking. Therefore, we systematically examined histological features of intestinal dysmotility in patients with AL and AA amyloidosis, compared to controls. Methods Key Results Autopsy tissue material from small bowel and colon was used for histological (semiquantitative) evaluation of the mucosa, blood vessels, muscular layers, enteric nervous system (ENS) and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), using hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid Schiff, Elastic von Gieson and Congo red staining, and immunohistochemistry with alpha-smooth muscle actin, HuC/D, S100 and CD117 antibodies, according to guidelines of the Gastro 2009 International Working Group. Amyloid deposits were present in the vascular walls of all amyloidosis patients. In the mucosa, amyloid was found in 67% of AA patients. The muscular layers were involved in 64% of amyloidosis patients, most prominent in AA patients, associated with the presence of polyglucosan inclusion bodies, but not with either abnormal alpha-actin patterns or fibrosis. Amyloid in the muscularis propria surrounding the myenteric plexus was found, but not inside the myenteric plexus. These deposits might be related to loss of the ICC network, but there was no association with decreased neuronal or nerve fiber density. Conclusions & Inferences We hypothesize that intestinal dysmotility in amyloidosis patients is a sequential process: amyloid deposition starts in the vasculature, followed by involvement of the muscular layers, ICC loss, and potentially affect the myenteric plexus. This final stage may be accompanied by clinical symptoms of severe intestinal dysmotility.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Neurogastroenterology and motility / European Gastrointestinal Motility Society. - Cambridge, Mass., 1994, currens
Publication
Cambridge, Mass. : 2018
ISSN
1350-1925 [print]
1365-2982 [online]
DOI
10.1111/NMO.13469
Volume/pages
30 :12 (2018) , 9 p.
Article Reference
e13469
ISI
000450595300005
Pubmed ID
30230124
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 10.12.2018
Last edited 09.10.2023
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