Clinical features of patients with hepatic amyloidosis

Objective To investigate the clinical features of patients with hepatic amyloidosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 12 patients with hepatic amyloidosis who were hospitalized in Department of Hepatology, 302 Hospital of PLA, from January 2011 to December 2016, including general information, clinical symptoms, signs, laboratory findings, imaging features, and pathological features.Results Of all 12 patients, there were 11 male patients (91.7%) and 1 female patient (8.3%) , aged 40-67 years (mean 53.0 ± 8.5 years) , and 2 (16.7%) had AA hepatic amyloidosis and 10 (83.3%) had AL hepatic amyloidosis.Major clinical symptoms included weakness in 7 patients (58.3%) , poor appetite in 5 patients (41.7%) , hepatic discomfort and pain in 9 patients (75.0%) , and proteinuria in 8 patients (66.7%) .Imaging examination showed liver cirrhosis in 12 patients (100%) , hepatomegaly in12 patients (100%) , and splenomegaly in 8 patients (66.7%) .Laboratory examination showed reduced albumin in 8 patients (66.7%) , abnormal liver function in 11 patients (91.7%) , increased total bilirubin in 7 patients (58.3%) , increased gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in 12 patients (100%) , and increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in 11 patients (91.7%) .Conclusion Hepatic amyloidosis mainly occurs in middle-aged men.The possibility of hepatic amyloidosis should be considered in case of liver cirrhosis, hepatomegaly, proteinuria, abnormal liver function, and increased ALP and GGT in clinical practice.Liver biopsy helps to make a definite diagnosis.There are still no effective therapies for this disease, but early diagnosis and intervention and timely treatment of complications can improve patients' prognosis.