Selective amyloidosis of the small intestine presenting as malabsorption syndrome.

ABSTRACT

Amyloidosis is a unique metabolic storage disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract but rarely causes severe symptoms. We describe the case of a 51-year-old woman presenting with chronic small bowel diarrhoea and malabsorption. Barium contrast studies and enteroscopy revealed a coarse mucosal pattern and thickening of the jejunal and proximal ileal folds. Histological examination revealed massive deposits of amyloid in thejejunal wall. No predisposing factor was found and there were no other sites of deposition. This is a rare case report of primary selective small intestinal amyloidosis manifesting as the malabsorption syndrome.