Renal amyloidoses in nephrology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological, evolutionary and clinical features of the renal amyloidosis and to identify poor prognostic factors. We conducted a retrospective study focusing on all patients hospitalized for renal amyloidosis between January 2013 and December 2014. The diagnosis was confirmed by renal puncture-biopsy or by biopsy of minor salivary glands. We collected data from 25 patients, 17 men and eight women, with an average age of 47.2 ± 18 years. Hospitalization rate and prevalence were 2.4% and 12.5 cases/year respectively. On admission, nephrotic syndrome was detected in 100% of cases and renal failure in 68% of cases. Proteinuria was ≥6g/24h in 60% of cases. Digestive symptoms (n=14), cardiac symptoms (n=10) and arterial hypotension (n=11) were the other manifestations. Infectious and inflammatory diseases were the main causes found (60%). Tuberculosis alone accounted for 20%. After a mean follow-up period of 219.5 days, chronic renal failure was found in 16 cases (64%), including 11 cases with end-stage disease (44%). Six patients died. Renal insufficiency at the time of diagnosis, the worsening of renal function and readmission were associated with a risk for chronic terminal renal failure (p: 0.03-0.04). Cardiac damage, the readmission and proteinuria ≥6g/24h were factors associated with the risk of mortality (p< 0.03). Renal failure, cardiac damage, proteinuria ≥6g/24h and readmission were the main factors for poor prognosis in this cohort.