GASTROINTESTINAL MANIFESTATIONS OF AMYLOIDOSIS

We reviewed gastrointestinal manifestations in 40 patients with amyloi dosis. Gastrointestinal symptoms included anorexia, macroglossia, inte stinal pseudo-obstruction, and altered bowel habits. Hepatomegaly was detected in eight patients, but none had clinically significant infilt rative liver disease. Mucosal friability and erosions were common endo scopic findings. Barium enema was noncontributory in the diagnosis of amyloidosis, since colonoscopy disclosed mucosal abnormalities in thre e of six patients with normal radiographic findings. Rectal biopsy had the highest diagnostic yield, followed by duodenal, gastric, and colo nic biopsies.