| primary amyloidosis | <immunology, nephrology> A disease which is characterised by the deposition of the fibrous protein amyloid in one or more locations within the body. Amyloid deposition may occur in the kidney, brain, liver, heart, skin and lungs. A recognised complication is a restrictive cardiomyopathy. (05 Mar 1998) |
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| hereditary amyloidosis | <neurology> A disorder in which various peripheral nerves are infiltrated with amyloid and their functions disturbed, an abnormal prealbumin is also formed and is present in the blood; characteristically, it begins during mid-life and is found largely in persons of Portuguese descent. Other rare clinical types occur. Inheritance: autosomal dominant. Synonym: familial amyloidosis, hereditary amyloidosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| secondary amyloidosis | Amyloidosis occurring in association with another chronic inflammatory disease; organs chiefly involved are the liver, spleen, and kidneys, and the adrenal glands less frequently. (05 Mar 2000) |
| senile amyloidosis | A common form of amyloidosis in very old people, usually mild and limited to the heart. See: amyloidosis of aging. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nodular amyloidosis | A localised form of amyloidosis in which amyloid occurs as masses or nodules beneath the skin or mucous membranes, e.g., in the larynx. Synonym: amyloid tumour, focal amyloidosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| familial amyloidosis | <neurology> A disorder in which various peripheral nerves are infiltrated with amyloid and their functions disturbed, an abnormal prealbumin is also formed and is present in the blood; characteristically, it begins during mid-life and is found largely in persons of Portuguese descent. Other rare clinical types occur. Inheritance: autosomal dominant. Synonym: familial amyloidosis, hereditary amyloidosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| focal amyloidosis | A localised form of amyloidosis in which amyloid occurs as masses or nodules beneath the skin or mucous membranes, e.g., in the larynx. Synonym: amyloid tumour, focal amyloidosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lichen amyloidosis | Localised cutaneous amyloidosis with pruritic brownish-red papules, most commonly on the lower legs, due to amyloid infiltration of the papillary dermis. Synonym: amyloidosis cutis, lichen amyloidosis. Origin: G. Leichen, lichen, a lichen-like eruption + eidos, resemblance (05 Mar 2000) |
| light chain-related amyloidosis | A form of primary amyloidosis in which the fibrillar amyloid deposits are derived from the amino terminal variable region of the light chains of immunoglobulin; seen in B-lymphocyte and plasma-cells dyscrasias. (05 Mar 2000) |