Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy: A Hereditary Disease, Not Always with Known Family History

Authors

  • Ana F. Batista Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital Distrital da Figueira da Foz, Figueira da Foz, Portugal
  • Ana F. Costa Serviço de Medicina Intensiva, Unidade Local de Saúde do Nordeste, Bragança, Portugal
  • Sara Fontaínhas Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital Distrital da Figueira da Foz, Figueira da Foz, Portugal
  • Catarina Camarneiro Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital Distrital da Figueira da Foz, Figueira da Foz, Portugal
  • Sónia C. Pereira Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital Distrital da Figueira da Foz, Figueira da Foz, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60591/crspmi.132

Keywords:

Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial, Peripheral Nervous System, Polyneuropathies

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathies are one of the most common neurological disorders in clinical practice. Its differential diagnosis is vast and includes familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), a rare and multisystemic disease, whose diagnosis has important implications for the patient and his family. Despite being hereditary, with autosomal dominant transmission, its high phenotypic variability associated with incomplete penetrance makes very atypical presentations possible. The lack of family history adds complexity to the diagnostic process.

The authors present the case of a 59-year-old woman with carpal tunnel syndrome and no relevant family history who was referred to an Internal Medicine Consultation due to distal sensory-motor polyneuropathy, with a 1-year evolution and gradual progression. The neurological alterations found in the objective examination, given the normality of the analytical study, justified the performance of an electromyogram, nerve biopsy and genetic study, which confirmed the diagnosis of FAP.

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References

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Published

29-11-2023

How to Cite

Batista, A. F., Costa, A. F., Fontaínhas, S., Camarneiro, C., & Pereira, S. C. (2023). Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy: A Hereditary Disease, Not Always with Known Family History. SPMI Case Reports, 1(4), 192–196. https://doi.org/10.60591/crspmi.132

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