Acute small bowel pseudo-obstruction due to AL amyloidosis: A case report and literature review

Amyloidosis may uncommonly present with intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Prev ious reports have described an acute presentation with AA amyloid and a mor e chronic syndrome with AL amyloid. We report the case of a 78-yr-old man w ho presented with clinical and radiographic features of an acute small bowe l obstruction and who, at laparotomy, was found to have intestinal pseudo-o bstruction due to AL amyloidosis. We believe this case represents the first report of acute pseudo-obstruction from AL amyloidosis; awareness of this presentation may facilitate earlier diagnosis. (Am J Gastroenterol 2000;95: 294-296. (C) 2000 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology).