Abstract
Systemic amyloidosis has a poor prognosis, complicating with nephropathy, enteropathyand/or cardiomyopathy. Eleven autopsied cases with systemic amyloidosis involving the lower gastrointestinal tract were studied as for histological characteristics vs clinical symptoms. Amyloid deposition was diffusely seen at the vascular walls of each layer of the intestinal wall mainly in the submucosa of the small intestine and the muscular layer of the large intestine. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage or paralytic ileus has developed in cases with severe amyloid deposition and long time being suffered from primary diseases. Amyloid deposition in cases with severe gastrointestinal complications was statistically significant at the mucosa, muscularis propria, serosa in the small intestine and the submucosa in the large intestine. Amyloid deposition in intramural neurofibers was variable. This study showed that there was severe amyloid deposition at each layer of the intestinal wall in cases developing serious complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding or intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
