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Alopecia Universalis: A Manifestation of Occult Amyloidosis and Multiple Myeloma

Alopecia Universalis: A Manifestation of Occult Amyloidosis and Multiple Myeloma Abstract Cutaneous involvement is a frequent clinical and pathologic finding in amyloidosis associated with plasma cell dyscrasias.1,2 Common clinical features include purpura, papules, nodules, plaques, and scleroderma-like changes.2-5 We describe herein a patient in whom generalized hair loss and anonychia were early prominent manifestations of unsuspected amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. Report of a Case A 65-year-old woman was referred to us for examination and treatment of congestive heart failure in October 1980. Orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and pedal edema had initially developed in 1977 and had responded to therapy with digoxin and hydrochlorothiazide until one month earlier. Coincidentally with the onset of heart disease, the patient had noticed brittleness of her fingernails and the gradual loss of all body hair. She had worn a wig for the past 18 months. Her only other symptoms included a 5.5-kg weight loss and dysarthria of three months' duration.Physical examination at the References 1. Rubinow A, Cohen AS: Skin involvement in generalized amyloidosis: A study of clinically involved and uninvolved skin in 50 patients with primary or secondary amyloidosis . Ann Intern Med 1978;88:781-785.Crossref 2. Brownstein MH, Helwig EB: The cutaneous amyloidoses: II. Systemic forms . Arch Dermatol 1970;102:20-28.Crossref 3. Goltz RW: Systematized amyloidosis: A review of skin and mucous membrane lesions and a report of two cases . Medicine 1952;31:381-409.Crossref 4. Rukavina JG, Block WD, Jackson CE, et al: Primary systemic amyloidosis: A review and an experimental, genetic, and clinical study of 29 cases with particular emphasis on the familial form . Medicine 1956;35:239-334.Crossref 5. Breathnach SM, Black MM: Systemic amyloidosis and the skin: A review with special emphasis on clinical features and therapy . Clin Exp Dermatol 1979;4:517-536.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Dermatology American Medical Association

Alopecia Universalis: A Manifestation of Occult Amyloidosis and Multiple Myeloma

Archives of Dermatology , Volume 117 (12) – Dec 1, 1981

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References (5)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1981 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-987X
eISSN
1538-3652
DOI
10.1001/archderm.1981.01650120061028
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Cutaneous involvement is a frequent clinical and pathologic finding in amyloidosis associated with plasma cell dyscrasias.1,2 Common clinical features include purpura, papules, nodules, plaques, and scleroderma-like changes.2-5 We describe herein a patient in whom generalized hair loss and anonychia were early prominent manifestations of unsuspected amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. Report of a Case A 65-year-old woman was referred to us for examination and treatment of congestive heart failure in October 1980. Orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and pedal edema had initially developed in 1977 and had responded to therapy with digoxin and hydrochlorothiazide until one month earlier. Coincidentally with the onset of heart disease, the patient had noticed brittleness of her fingernails and the gradual loss of all body hair. She had worn a wig for the past 18 months. Her only other symptoms included a 5.5-kg weight loss and dysarthria of three months' duration.Physical examination at the References 1. Rubinow A, Cohen AS: Skin involvement in generalized amyloidosis: A study of clinically involved and uninvolved skin in 50 patients with primary or secondary amyloidosis . Ann Intern Med 1978;88:781-785.Crossref 2. Brownstein MH, Helwig EB: The cutaneous amyloidoses: II. Systemic forms . Arch Dermatol 1970;102:20-28.Crossref 3. Goltz RW: Systematized amyloidosis: A review of skin and mucous membrane lesions and a report of two cases . Medicine 1952;31:381-409.Crossref 4. Rukavina JG, Block WD, Jackson CE, et al: Primary systemic amyloidosis: A review and an experimental, genetic, and clinical study of 29 cases with particular emphasis on the familial form . Medicine 1956;35:239-334.Crossref 5. Breathnach SM, Black MM: Systemic amyloidosis and the skin: A review with special emphasis on clinical features and therapy . Clin Exp Dermatol 1979;4:517-536.Crossref

Journal

Archives of DermatologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Dec 1, 1981

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