A case of familial amyloid polyneuropathy due to Phe33Val TTR with vitreous involvement as the initial manifestation

Intern Med. 2010;49(12):1213-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.49.3355. Epub 2010 Jun 15.

Abstract

We report a 61-year-old Japanese woman with transthyretin (TTR) Val33-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). She presented with late-onset, vitreous involvement as the initial manifestation, slow development of polyneuropathy, cardiomyopathy, and severe autonomic failure without carpal tunnel syndrome. Liver transplantation was performed and her postoperative course was stable. Taken together with previous reports, vitreous opacities seem to be common to Val33 FAP. Vitreous amyloidosis is usually seen in combination with the involvement of other visceral organs. The findings in the present case emphasize that vitreous opacities could be the first manifestation of FAP.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics*
  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / diagnosis
  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / genetics*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Eye Diseases / diagnosis
  • Eye Diseases / genetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenylalanine / genetics
  • Prealbumin / genetics*
  • Valine / genetics
  • Vitreous Body / pathology*

Substances

  • Prealbumin
  • Phenylalanine
  • Valine