Wohlwill-Andrade syndrome

Overview

A form of amyloidosis that is inherited from the parents.

Symptoms

* Syncope * Orthostatic hypotension * Muscle wasting * Visual difficulties * Walking difficulties

Causes

Amyloidosis is sometimes familial, especially in people of Portuguese ancestry. It may occur in conjunction with tuberculosis, chronic infection, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease, paraplegia, and brucellosis. It may also accompany Alzheimer’s disease. In amyloidosis, accumulation and infiltration of amyloid produces pressure and causes atrophy of nearby cells. Reticuloendothelial cell dysfunction and abnormal immunoglobulin synthesis occur in some types of amyloidosis. In the United States, evidence of amyloidosis on autopsy is 0.5%, but true incidence is difficult to determine.