Gastroparesis in a Patient with Gastric AL Amyloidosis

Abstract

Systemic amyloidosis is a group of complex disorders characterized by the extracellular deposition of nonbranching fibrils in various tissues, ultimately leading to a variety of clinical presentations including isolated or multiorgan dysfunction. Amyloid involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is common depending on the subtype of this disease; light chain primary amyloidosis (AL) and secondary amyloidosis (AA) affect the gastrointestinal tract in unique ways due to differing pathophysiology. A case is reported of gastroparesis associated with AL amyloidosis diagnosed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy and study of gastric emptying, then subsequently confirmed by Congo red staining performed on endoscopic biopsies.