Dialysis-induced amyloidosis in patients with end stage renal disease: an electron microscopic study of gingival biopsies

ABSTRACT

Amyloidosis has been recently recognized in uremic patients undergoing long- term dialysis. Amyloid deposits are predominantly articular or periarticular causing musculoskeletal disorders. The diagnosis of amyloidosis through gingival biopsy in these patients was attempted in this study. Both light and electron microscopic findings were significant. Amyloid deposits were detected in the biopsy specimens. The deposits were mainly composed of beta-2 microglobulin, a protein which is neither excreted nor dialyzable in end stage renal disease