Should the Reporting of Bone Marrow Positivity for Amyloid Be Revised?: A Critical Assessment Based on 66 Biopsies From a Single Institution

Context.— Amyloidoses are rare but heterogeneous disorders for which diagnosis is contingent upon the detection of deposits by Congo red stain and amyloid protein typing determines the treatment options. Objective.— To address the reporting of bone marrow (BM) involvement by amyloid in relation to the spatial distribution of deposits and to explore whether the location of deposits may have clinical relevance. Design.— We examined 66 BM biopsies positive for amyloid with regard to the location and type of amyloid, the percentage and clonality of plasma cells, other organ involvement, and relevant clinical information. Results.— In 21 cases, amyloid deposits involved BM stroma, whereas 45 cases were nonstromal. All cases of stromal involvement were typed as amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis (or presumed AL), whereas nonstromal involvement was associated with at least 3 types of amyloidosis: AL, amyloid transthyretin (ATTR), and amyloid A (AA). The initial diagnosis of amyloidosis was made in a BM specimen in 21 of 66 cases (31.8%). Plasma cells ranged from 1% to 80% (mean, 13.4%; median, 8%; <10% in 44 of 66 specimens [66.6%]) and were monoclonal in 58 of 66 cases (87.8%), and in 54 of 66 cases (81.8%) amyloid deposits were documented in at least one other organ. Conclusions.— This study demonstrates that there is significant heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of amyloid in BM biopsy specimens with medullary, extramedullary, purely vascular, or combined involvement. Whereas stromal deposits were associated exclusively with AL, nonstromal and purely vascular deposits were seen in at least 3 types of systemic amyloidosis (AL, AA, and ATTR). We discuss the reporting of BM biopsy tissue positivity for amyloid deposits.

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Immunoglobulin Light-Chain Amyloidosis: From Basics to New Developments in Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapy

Acta Haematologica ◽

10.1159/000443200 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 135 (3) ◽

pp. 172-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Eli Muchtar ◽

Francis K. Buadi ◽

Angela Dispenzieri ◽

Morie A. Gertz

Keyword(s):

Light Chain ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Organ Damage ◽

Major Effect ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Prognostic Effect ◽

Amyloid Light Chain ◽

Immunoglobulin Light Chain Amyloidosis

Immunoglobulin amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis, where the culprit amyloidogenic protein is immunoglobulin light chains produced by marrow clonal plasma cells. AL amyloidosis is an infrequent disease, and since presentation is variable and often nonspecific, diagnosis is often delayed. This results in cumulative organ damage and has a negative prognostic effect. AL amyloidosis can also be challenging on the diagnostic level, especially when demonstration of Congo red-positive tissue is not readily obtained. Since as many as 31 known amyloidogenic proteins have been identified to date, determination of the amyloid type is required. While several typing methods are available, mass spectrometry has become the gold standard for amyloid typing. Upon confirming the diagnosis of amyloidosis, a pursuit for organ involvement is essential, with a focus on heart involvement, even in the absence of suggestive symptoms for involvement, as this has both prognostic and treatment implications. Details regarding initial treatment options, including stem cell transplantation, are provided in this review. AL amyloidosis management requires a multidisciplinary approach with careful patient monitoring, as organ impairment has a major effect on morbidity and treatment tolerability until a response to treatment is achieved and recovery emerges.

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Macroglossia – Not Always AL Amyloidosis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.5007.5007 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 5007-5007 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrew J Cowan ◽

Martha Skinner ◽

J. Mark Sloan ◽

John L Berk ◽

Carl J O'Hara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Plasma Cell ◽

Light Chain ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Plasma Cell Dyscrasia ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Amyloid Deposits ◽

Immuno Electron Microscopy ◽

Congo Red Staining

Abstract Abstract 5007 Introduction: Amyloidosis is characterized by extracellular deposition of abnormal insoluble fibrillar proteins. The two most frequent systemic amyloidoses are the light-chain (AL amyloidosis) and familial transthyretin (ATTR) forms. Clinical presentations often vary between the two types. Macroglossia is viewed as pathognomic of AL amyloidosis, and has not previously been described in patients with hereditary TTR amyloidosis. Here, we describe two cases of systemic amyloidosis with macroglossia in which immuno-electron microscopy diagnosed ATTR in one and AL in the other. Case Presentations: A 61 year old woman presented initially to her general internist with weight loss, difficulty swallowing, and tongue numbness. Her clinical exam revealed macroglossia and peripheral neuropathy. Tongue and axillary lymph node biopsies demonstrated amyloid deposits by Congo red staining. There was no evidence of renal, cardiac or other vital organ involvement. She had no evidence of a plasma cell dyscrasia with negative serum and urine immunofixation electrophoresis, normal serum free light chain concentration and ratio as well as polytypic plasma cells in the bone marrow. Immuno-electron microscopy using gold-labeled antibodies was performed on the tongue biopsy. The fibrils were immunoreactive with anti-TTR but not anti-kappa, anti-lambda, or anti-AA antibodies. DNA sequencing identified a known amyloidogenic T60A TTR mutation in exon 3 of chromosome 18, confirming the diagnosis of ATTR with amyloidotic polyneuropathy and macroglossia. The second case involved a 59 year old man with renal insufficiency. He complained of fatigue, weight loss, and tongue swelling. Physical examination was significant for macroglossia and submandibular gland enlargement. Tongue biopsy demonstrated amyloid deposits by Congo red staining. As in the previous case, markers of plasma cell dyscrasia with clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow, blood, and urine were absent. Immuno-electron microscopy of the tongue biopsy documented antibody reactivity to lambda light chain and not TTR, kappa light chain or AA proteins, confirming the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis. He subsequently underwent treatment with high dose intravenous melphalan followed by stem cell transplantation achieving a good clinical response sustained for 2 years to date. Discussion: While macroglossia is thought to be pathognomonic of AL amyloidosis, we report a case of macroglossia with fibrillar ATTR amyloid deposits diagnosed by immuno-electron microscopy. This is contrasted with a clinical presentation consistent with AL in which routine laboratory testing failed to identify evidence of a plasma cell dyscrasia. In both cases, electron microscopy demonstrated immunoreactivity for the fibrils of a single pathogenic protein. The first case was confirmed by DNA sequencing, and the second had a typical response to anti-plasma cell chemotherapy, in spite of the lack of identifiable markers of disease. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Massive Hepatomegaly Secondary to Amyloidosis with Normal Liver Chemistries

Case Reports in Gastroenterology ◽

10.1159/000507612 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 271-278

Author(s):

Sarah Doe-Williams ◽

Lee J. Hixson ◽

David C. Pfeiffer

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Serum Alkaline Phosphatase ◽

Bone Marrow Involvement ◽

Normal Liver ◽

Amyloid Deposition ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Hepatic Involvement ◽

Hepatic Amyloidosis ◽

Amyloid Light Chain

Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a disease of misfolded, fibrous proteins, either kappa or lambda subtype, that can be deposited into one or more organs, caused by a proliferation of plasma cells. The liver is uncommonly the main organ system affected and rarely the only organ affected by amyloid deposition. With hepatic involvement, the most common presenting findings are hepatomegaly and elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase. We report a case of a 50-year-old male who presented to our gastroenterology clinic with marked hepatomegaly secondary to hepatic amyloidosis, in concert with bone marrow involvement and nephrotic syndrome. Biopsies in conjunction with Congo red staining demonstrated 95% replacement of hepatic structure and 80% replacement of bone marrow with amyloid deposition. Despite these findings, liver chemistries, renal function, and blood count were normal. Our case presents not only the rare finding of primary hepatic amyloidosis but also an atypical presentation of this disorder. Although rare, AL amyloidosis should be in a differential diagnosis of any patient who presents with unexplained hepatomegaly, nephrotic-range proteinuria, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, fatigue, weight loss or a history of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

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Bone disease as the first manifestation of systemic AL-amyloidosis

Terapevticheskii arkhiv ◽

10.26442/00403660.2020.07.000775 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 92 (7) ◽

pp. 85-89

Author(s):

L. P. Mendeleeva ◽

I. G. Rekhtina ◽

A. M. Kovrigina ◽

I. E. Kostina ◽

V. A. Khyshova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Bone Disease ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Interventricular Septum ◽

Bone Destruction ◽

Amyloid Deposition ◽

Bone Lesions ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Linear Type

Our case demonstrates severe bone disease in primary AL-amyloidosis without concomitant multiple myeloma. A 30-year-old man had spontaneous vertebral fracture Th8. A computed tomography scan suggested multiple foci of lesions in all the bones. In bone marrow and resected rib werent detected any tumor cells. After 15 years from the beginning of the disease, nephrotic syndrome developed. Based on the kidney biopsy, AL-amyloidosis was confirmed. Amyloid was also detected in the bowel and bone marrow. On the indirect signs (thickening of the interventricular septum 16 mm and increased NT-proBNP 2200 pg/ml), a cardial involvement was confirmed. In the bone marrow (from three sites) was found 2.85% clonal plasma cells with immunophenotype СD138+, СD38dim, СD19-, СD117+, СD81-, СD27-, СD56-. FISH method revealed polysomy 5,9,15 in 3% of the nuclei. Serum free light chain Kappa 575 mg/l (/44.9) was detected. Multiple foci of destruction with increased metabolic activity (SUVmax 3.6) were visualized on PET-CT, and an surgical intervention biopsy was performed from two foci. The number of plasma cells from the destruction foci was 2.5%, and massive amyloid deposition was detected. On CT scan foci of lesions differed from bone lesions at multiple myeloma. Bone fragments of point and linear type (button sequestration) were visualized in most of the destruction foci. The content of the lesion was low density. There was no extraossal spread from large zones of destruction. There was also spontaneous scarring of the some lesions (without therapy). Thus, the diagnosis of multiple myeloma was excluded on the basis based on x-ray signs, of the duration of osteodestructive syndrome (15 years), the absence of plasma infiltration in the bone marrow, including from foci of bone destruction by open biopsy. This observation proves the possibility of damage to the skeleton due to amyloid deposition and justifies the need to include AL-amyloidosis in the spectrum of differential diagnosis of diseases that occur with osteodestructive syndrome.

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Systemic AL amyloidosis with high bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) infiltration: a case report and literature review

Journal of Xiangya Medicine ◽

10.21037/jxym.2019.07.01 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. I 30-30

Author(s):

Hui-Wen Wang ◽

Rong Tang ◽

Xiang-Cheng Xiao ◽

Wei Liu ◽

Morie A. Gertz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Case Report ◽

Literature Review ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Bone Marrow Plasma ◽

High Bone

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High Dose Melphalan with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Overcomes Poor Prognosis of Primary Amyloidosis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.1350.1350 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 1350-1350

Author(s):

Simrit Parmar ◽

Mubeen Khan ◽

Gabriela Rondon ◽

Nina Shah ◽

Qaiser Bashir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

High Dose ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Hematologic Response ◽

Bone Marrow Plasma ◽

Organ Response ◽

High Dose Melphalan

Abstract Abstract 1350 Background: Systemic Primary AL Amyloidosis is a rare but potentially fatal disease resulting from tissue deposits of amyloid fibrils derived from monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains. High-dose melphalan followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (auto HCT) is associated with hematologic and organ responses and improved survival. Methods: In this retrospective analysis we identified 46 patients with primary AL amyloidosis who received auto HCT between 01/1998 to 05/2010 at MDACC. Organ responses were determined using Amyloidosis Consensus Criteria. Results: The median age at auto HSCT was 56 years (34-74) where 61% were males and 35% were older than 60 years of age. 61% had lambda light chain restriction and only 4% had cytogenetic abnormalities. Disease characteristics are summarized in Table 1. The median time from diagnosis to auto HCT was 6.6 months (2.2-29.4 months). 22 pts (47.8%) had one organ, 19 pts (41.3%) had 2 organ and 4 pts (8.7%) had 3 organ involvement. 11 pts (23.9%) had heart and 35 pts (76.1%) had kidney involvement. The median follow up from the time of diagnosis was 22.4 months and from time of auto HCT was 16.7 months. High dose Melphalan dose was 200mg/m2 in 24 pts (52%) and 140mg/m2 in 22 (47.8%). There were 4 early deaths and 4 pts whose follow up was less than 3 months and their response was not assessed. Out of the 38 evaluable patients, the post-transplant organ responses were as follows ≥PR 25(66%), ≥stable disease 35(92%) (Table2). The hematologic responses were: CR=5 (13%), ≥VGPR=10(26%), ≥PR=26 (68%), ≥SD=37(97%). One patient had progressive disease. There was a correlation between organ response and hematologic response (chi square;p<10-3). The day-100 treatment related mortality (TRM) was 8.7% and 1-yr TRM was 13%. The median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from auto HCT was 73.8 months and not reached (from transplant). The median PFS and OS from diagnosis were 93 months and 59.8 months respectively. In multivariate analysis, heart involvement (p=0.01), female sex (p=0.011), age ≥60 years (p=0.002), bone marrow plasma cells≥10% (p=0.043) and Beta-2 microglobulin>3.5mg/l (p=0.02) were associated with poor OS. Improved OS correlated with organ response (52.6 vs 11.4 months; p=0.01) and hematologic response (52.6 vs.6.1months; p=0.002). Hemoglobin <10 g/dl (p=0.047), bone marrow plasma cells≥10% (p=0.043) and age≥60 years (p=0.075) were associated with shorter PFS. Hematologc response (p=0.48) and organ response (p=0.12) were not associated with improved PFS. Conclusion: In this analysis the outcome of patients with primary systemic AL amyloidosis was durable with auto HCT with acceptable mortality risk and improved survival. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Outcomes and Treatments of Relapsed AL Amyloidosis Following Stem Cell Transplant

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v120.21.1858.1858 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 120 (21) ◽

pp. 1858-1858 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rahma Warsame ◽

Soo-Mee Bang ◽

Shaji K. Kumar ◽

Martha Q Lacy ◽

Francis K Buadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cell ◽

Stem Cell Transplant ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Autologous Stem Cell Transplant ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Cell Transplant ◽

Post Transplant

Abstract Abstract 1858 Systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) is a condition where clonal plasma cells produce misfolded insoluble immunoglobulin light chains that deposit in various organs causing progressive organ dysfunction. Chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) when eligible is the standard treatment options for patients with AL amyloidosis. There are several studies who report long term outcomes of patient post ASCT. However, there is a paucity of literature describing the outcomes of patients who have received ASCT but have relapsed. We performed a retrospective study to assess the outcomes and treatment regimens employed following relapse after ASCT. Between 1996 and 2009, 410 patients received ASCT at the Mayo Clinic as first line therapy. Of those 410 patients 42 patients died within 3 months of transplant, 64 patients died without documented relapse, 158 patients were alive without documented progression, and 146 patients had documented progression. Those 146 patients are the subject of our study. The median time to hematologic relapse was 2 years (range: 0.2–15.5 years). At relapse, 59 patients were treated with IMiD based therapy, 36 with alkylator based therapy, 24 with bortezomib, 15 with steroids, and 5 with second ASCT. The respective hematologic response rates were 58%, 33%, 50%, 53%, and 60%. The remaining six patients were not evaluable for response for one other following reasons: organ transplants; no further therapy; inevaluable disease. With a median post relapse follow up of 3.6 years, the median overall survival (OS) from the first post ASCT relapse was 4.6 years. The median post transplant follow up was 6.1 years, the median OS for these patients was 7.3 years from the time of transplant. These data provide novel information about outcomes after SCT relapse, which should be useful not only for patients and doctors but also for investigators designing studies for salvage therapies post-transplant. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Definition of a high-risk population among patients with AL amyloidosis not undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation using bone marrow plasmacytosis and the presence of CRAB.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.8516 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 8516-8516

Author(s):

Taxiarchis Kourelis ◽

Morie Gertz ◽

Martha Lacy ◽

Francis Buadi ◽

Suzanne R. Hayman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Stem Cell Transplant ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Autologous Stem Cell Transplant ◽

Bone Lesions ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Cell Transplant ◽

Beta 2 Microglobulin

8516 Background: There is consensus that light chain amyloidosis (AL) patients with CRAB criteria (abnormal calcium or renal function, anemia or lytic bone lesions) also have multiple myeloma (MM). These patients are typically excluded from AL trials; however, AL patients with >= 10% bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC) in the absence of CRAB are included in trials along with AL with < 10% BMPC. We postulated that the currently used dichotomy may be incorrect and examined the spectrum of AL with and without MM. Methods: We identified 1,272 patients with AL seen within 90 days of diagnosis, between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010. We defined the population of patients with coexisting MM based on the existence of CRAB (AL-CRAB-MM). Patients without CRAB were divided into two groups, AL-only (<10% BMPC) and AL-PC-MM (>=10% BMPC). Results: Among the 1,272 patients, 117 (9%) had AL-CRAB-MM, 476 (37%) had AL-PC-MM, and 679 (53%) had AL only. Their respective median overall survivals (OS) were 16.2, 15.8, and 28.4 months (p<0.0001). Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) was performed in 203 (30%), 138 (29%) and 23 (20%) patients respectively. Since the outcomes of AL-CRAB-MM and AL-PC-MM were similar, they were pooled for univariate and multivariate analyses. On multivariate analysis, AL-CRAB-MM and AL-PC-MM retained negative prognostic value independent of age, cardiac stage, prior autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), beta 2 microglobulin, and dFLC. We next considered whether patients received ASCT as part of their treatment. For those patients who never received ASCT, the 5-year OS were 19%, 14%, and 31%, p<0.001, for AL-CRAB-MM, AL-PC-MM, and AL only respectively. In contrast, for those patients who received ASCT, the respective 5-year OS were 46%, 56%, and 73%, p<0.001. Conclusions: AL patients with >=10% BMPCs have a poor prognosis similar to patients with AL-CRAB-MM and should therefore be considered as AL with MM.

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Recurrent diffuse gastric bleeding as a leading symptom of gastrointestinal AL amyloidosis

Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie ◽

10.1055/s-0043-120924 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 (12) ◽

pp. 1318-1322 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Caspar Franck ◽

Marino Venerito ◽

Jochen Weigt ◽

Albert Roessner ◽

Peter Malfertheiner

Keyword(s):

Plasma Cells ◽

Serum Proteins ◽

Histopathological Examination ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Gastric Bleeding ◽

Amyloid Deposits ◽

Leading Symptom

AbstractAmyloidosis is a rare disease (incidence about 0.8/100 000) characterized by extracellular tissue deposition of fibrils composed of low molecular weight subunits of a variety of serum proteins. Clinical manifestations are largely determined by the type of precursor protein, the tissue distribution and the amount of amyloid deposition. Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations of amyloidosis are even more uncommon (3 % of all amyloidosis patients). Symptoms of GI amyloidosis are nonspecific, heterogeneous, and include weight loss, GI bleeding, heartburn, early satiety, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The histopathological examination of biopsy specimens from the GI tract leads to the diagnosis.Herein we report the case of a 63-year-old woman with recurrent diffuse gastric bleeding. Endoscopic biopsies revealed distinct amyloid deposits in the mucosa of the stomach. Further histochemical assessment confirmed systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis with clinically predominant gastrointestinal manifestation. An induction therapy with bortezomib and dexamethasone was initiated.Our report illustrates the importance of the multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis and management of AL amyloidosis. Current treatment of systemic AL amyloidosis is based on cytostatic targeting of immunoglobulin producing plasma cells. Therapeutic options are limited and highly toxic, making the development of novel treatment approaches an urgent need.

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