Digestive Amyloidosis Trends: Clinical, Pathological, and Imaging Characteristics

Amyloidosis is a group of diseases characterized by the extracellular deposition of abnormally folded, insoluble proteins that lead to organ dysfunction. While it commonly affects the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement is undetermined. Recent research has focused on under...

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Main Authors: Sandica Bucurica, Andreea-Simona Nancoff, Miruna Valeria Moraru, Ana Bucurica, Calin Socol, Daniel-Vasile Balaban, Mihaela Raluca Mititelu, Ionela Maniu, Florentina Ionita-Radu, Mariana Jinga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2630
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author Sandica Bucurica
Andreea-Simona Nancoff
Miruna Valeria Moraru
Ana Bucurica
Calin Socol
Daniel-Vasile Balaban
Mihaela Raluca Mititelu
Ionela Maniu
Florentina Ionita-Radu
Mariana Jinga
author_facet Sandica Bucurica
Andreea-Simona Nancoff
Miruna Valeria Moraru
Ana Bucurica
Calin Socol
Daniel-Vasile Balaban
Mihaela Raluca Mititelu
Ionela Maniu
Florentina Ionita-Radu
Mariana Jinga
author_sort Sandica Bucurica
collection DOAJ
description Amyloidosis is a group of diseases characterized by the extracellular deposition of abnormally folded, insoluble proteins that lead to organ dysfunction. While it commonly affects the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement is undetermined. Recent research has focused on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic approaches to GI amyloidosis, particularly in systemic amyloid light-chain (AL) and amyloid A (AA) forms. GI manifestations can include motility disorders, bleeding, and, in severe cases, bowel obstruction. This review highlights the importance of the early recognition of digestive symptoms and associated imagistic findings in GI amyloidosis by analyzing the research that included clinical, pathological, and endoscopic approaches to amyloidosis. A systematic search of the PubMed and Scopus databases identified 19 relevant studies. Our findings showed that amyloid deposits commonly affect the entire GI tract, with AL amyloidosis being the most predominant form. Endoscopic evaluations and biopsy remain key diagnostic tools, with Congo Red staining and mass spectrometry being used to confirm amyloid type. Although progress has been made in diagnosis, the absence of targeted therapies and the indistinct nature of GI symptoms continue to be challenging.
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spelling doaj-art-35cbfcfbec9e45dba869694109b192cf2025-08-20T01:53:49ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-11-011211263010.3390/biomedicines12112630Digestive Amyloidosis Trends: Clinical, Pathological, and Imaging CharacteristicsSandica Bucurica0Andreea-Simona Nancoff1Miruna Valeria Moraru2Ana Bucurica3Calin Socol4Daniel-Vasile Balaban5Mihaela Raluca Mititelu6Ionela Maniu7Florentina Ionita-Radu8Mariana Jinga9Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacology, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Emergency Central Military Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”, 024185 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology, University Emergency Central Military Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”, 024185 Bucharest, RomaniaGeneral Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacology, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaGeneral Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacology, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacology, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University Sibiu, 550012 Sibiu, RomaniaDepartment of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacology, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacology, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaAmyloidosis is a group of diseases characterized by the extracellular deposition of abnormally folded, insoluble proteins that lead to organ dysfunction. While it commonly affects the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement is undetermined. Recent research has focused on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic approaches to GI amyloidosis, particularly in systemic amyloid light-chain (AL) and amyloid A (AA) forms. GI manifestations can include motility disorders, bleeding, and, in severe cases, bowel obstruction. This review highlights the importance of the early recognition of digestive symptoms and associated imagistic findings in GI amyloidosis by analyzing the research that included clinical, pathological, and endoscopic approaches to amyloidosis. A systematic search of the PubMed and Scopus databases identified 19 relevant studies. Our findings showed that amyloid deposits commonly affect the entire GI tract, with AL amyloidosis being the most predominant form. Endoscopic evaluations and biopsy remain key diagnostic tools, with Congo Red staining and mass spectrometry being used to confirm amyloid type. Although progress has been made in diagnosis, the absence of targeted therapies and the indistinct nature of GI symptoms continue to be challenging.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2630digestive amyloidosisamyloid depositsdigestive motilityamyloid light chainsgastrointestinal amyloidosis
spellingShingle Sandica Bucurica
Andreea-Simona Nancoff
Miruna Valeria Moraru
Ana Bucurica
Calin Socol
Daniel-Vasile Balaban
Mihaela Raluca Mititelu
Ionela Maniu
Florentina Ionita-Radu
Mariana Jinga
Digestive Amyloidosis Trends: Clinical, Pathological, and Imaging Characteristics
Biomedicines
digestive amyloidosis
amyloid deposits
digestive motility
amyloid light chains
gastrointestinal amyloidosis
title Digestive Amyloidosis Trends: Clinical, Pathological, and Imaging Characteristics
title_full Digestive Amyloidosis Trends: Clinical, Pathological, and Imaging Characteristics
title_fullStr Digestive Amyloidosis Trends: Clinical, Pathological, and Imaging Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Digestive Amyloidosis Trends: Clinical, Pathological, and Imaging Characteristics
title_short Digestive Amyloidosis Trends: Clinical, Pathological, and Imaging Characteristics
title_sort digestive amyloidosis trends clinical pathological and imaging characteristics
topic digestive amyloidosis
amyloid deposits
digestive motility
amyloid light chains
gastrointestinal amyloidosis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2630
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