A quantitative method for detecting deposits of amyloid A protein in aspirated fat tissue of patients with arthritis

Abstract

(Ann Rheum Dis 1999;58:96-102)

Phenol Congo Red Staining Enhances the Diagnostic Value of Abdominal Fat Aspiration Biopsy in Reactive AA Amyloidosis Secondary to Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…In this respect the abdominal fat tissue is superior to other biopsy sites because easy access to it permits frequent histopathological examinations. Because of this advantage, abdominal fat aspiration biopsy has recently been employed to quantitatively evaluate amyloid deposits using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and to perform a long-term follow-up study in patients with systemic reactive AAamyloidosis (19,20). Abdominal fat aspiration biopsy nevertheless has several disadvantages.…”

“…To detect amyloid deposits in tissues, alkaline Congo red staining has been commonlyemployed in previous studies involving histopathological examinations (13,14,(19)(20)(21).…”

Congo Red Staining of Amyloid: Improvements and Practical Guide for a More Precise Diagnosis of Amyloid and the Different Amyloidoses

“…There is currently a debate concerning whether or not the amount of amyloid is indeed the most important factor causing the clinical symptoms, because the most toxic molecular species could be represented in vitro by the preamyloidotic oligomers (reviewed by Buxbaum, 2004). Three methods are in use today for the quantifi cation of amyloid in patients: (1) the morphometric measurement of amyloid in tissue sections with a numerical readout, (2) the whole-body scintigraphy with radioactive tracers without a numerical readout, and (3) the exact quantifi cation of amyloid proteins in solubilized form from biopsies that shows a good correlation with the clinical situation (Hazenberg et al, 1999), which would still require a bioptic controls.…”

Abdominal Fat Aspiration Biopsy and Genotyping of Serum Amyloid A Contribute to Early Diagnosis of Reactive AA Amyloidosis Secondary to Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…In the histopathological diagnosis of reactive AA amyloidosis either the gastroduodenal and rectal mucosa or abdominal fat tissue has been commonly used as a biopsy site (1,(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). A few reports have shown that the bulbus and the second portion of the duodenumare the most sensitive site for biopsy (15,16), but an endoscopic examination is often difficult and risky in RApatients, particularly in those with either various complications, including ischemic heart disease, or involvement of the cervical spine.…”