systemic amyloidoses

systemic amyloidoses

A group of diseases that have in common the deposition, outside the cells, of an abnormal, insoluble fibrillary protein called amyloid. In primary AMYLOIDOSIS the amyloid fibrils are monoclonal fragments of antibody (immunoglobulin) light chains. In secondary and familial amyloidoses other proteins, including apolipoprotein, fibrinogen, lysozyme and transthyretin, are involved.