Primary (localised non-familial) conjunctival amyloidosis: three case reports. 1997

C M Moorman, and B McDonald
Department of Neuropathology, Radcliffe Infirmary NHS Trust, Oxford, UK.

Conjunctival amyloidosis is an uncommon condition which usually arises secondary to chronic infection or trauma to the eye. It is rare to find significant deposits of amyloid involving the conjunctiva alone in the absence of a known antecedent infective, traumatic or hereditofamilial disorder. We report three patients with primary localised conjunctival amyloidosis. Each patient presented with a painless swelling in the lower fornix; in two this gradually extended to involve the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva of both eyes with friable yellow deposits. Detailed clinical photographs illustrate the specific features of the disease. None of the patients had previous ocular pathology and bacterial, viral and fungal cultures of the conjunctiva were negative. There were no signs of inflammation. Conjunctival biopsies in each case showed large amorphous nodular deposits of amyloid within the substantia propria. Extensive systemic investigations including serum and urinary protein immunoelectrophoresis were normal. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 15 years after presentation. Treatment was symptomatic. As the typical features of amyloidosis present late in the course of conjunctival disease a diagnostic biopsy is often delayed. Once there is histopathological verification plasma cell disease must be excluded, although if the amyloid is limited to the conjunctiva systemic involvement is unlikely.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D003229 Conjunctival Diseases Diseases involving the CONJUNCTIVA. Conjunctival Disease,Disease, Conjunctival,Diseases, Conjunctival
D005260 Female Females
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000682 Amyloid A fibrous protein complex that consists of proteins folded into a specific cross beta-pleated sheet structure. This fibrillar structure has been found as an alternative folding pattern for a variety of functional proteins. Deposits of amyloid in the form of AMYLOID PLAQUES are associated with a variety of degenerative diseases. The amyloid structure has also been found in a number of functional proteins that are unrelated to disease. Amyloid Fibril,Amyloid Fibrils,Amyloid Substance,Fibril, Amyloid,Fibrils, Amyloid,Substance, Amyloid
D000686 Amyloidosis A group of sporadic, familial and/or inherited, degenerative, and infectious disease processes, linked by the common theme of abnormal protein folding and deposition of AMYLOID. As the amyloid deposits enlarge they displace normal tissue structures, causing disruption of function. Various signs and symptoms depend on the location and size of the deposits. Amyloidoses
D001706 Biopsy Removal and pathologic examination of specimens from the living body. Biopsies

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