REDUCED TASTE PERCEPTION IN AL AMYLOIDOSIS - A FREQUENTLY UNNOTICED SENSORY IMPAIRMENT

Background. Sporadic observations suggest a possible taste impairment in AL amyloidosis, but the frequency and intensity of this sensory ano maly are not known. Materials and Methods. We submitted 21 AL amyloido tic patients, drawn from subjects referred to the Amyloidosis Study Ce nter of the Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, Unive rsity of Pavia, to suprathreshold scaling analysis. Results. Taste acu ity was reduced in most of them. Every taste showed independent behavi or, and 90% of these patients were hypogeusic. True ageusia for one or two tastes was observed in 35% of patients. No patient was aware of r educed taste acuity. Macroglossia did not seem to play a prominent rol e in dulling tastes. Conclusions. Impairment of taste perception sugge sts that gustative neuropathy is a frequently unnoticed expression of sensory involvement in AL amyloidosis.