This authoritative volume contains 179 chapters by international experts on recent developments in our understanding of amyloid proteins, protein folding disorders, and new and proposed clinical trials in amyloidosis. Topics include detection and characterization techniques; biological functions; genetics; disorders, diagnosis, and treatments, including organ transplants and drug therapies; results from extensive clinical studies; and epidemiology. This is a valuable resource for clinicians who care for patients with systemic and localized forms of amyloidosis, and for researchers in...

Plasma cell dyscrasias are common causes of peripheral neuropathy. Peri pheral neuropathy may be the first manifestation of multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Peripheral neuropathy occurs in more than one-half of patients with osteosclerotic myeloma. The hematologic disorders are such an important association with peripheral polyneuropathy that, for the last decade, we have obtained a metastatic bone survey and immunoelectrophoresis of serum and a 24-hour urine specimen on all patients older than 40 years with undiagnosed peripheral...