La amiloidosis como complicación de la anemia drepanocítica

an ambiopective, analytical and longitudinal study was conducted in 15 patients with drepanocytic anemia between 1995 and 2001 aimed at evaluating the existance of systemic amyloidosis by performing biopsy of the abdominal fat. the violet glass and and congo red techniques were used. the positive results in both stainings, which were observed in 6 patients (40 %), were considered as a diagnosis. the microhistories of follow-up were reviewed to determine the clinical and hematological behavior of the disease. the average figures of hemoglobin and reticulocytes, the levels of fetal hemoglobin and the frequency of vasoocclusive crises, of transfusions, as well as of infectious episodes, were used as variables. the relation between these variables and the existance of amyloidosis was evaluated by calculating the relative risk. no statistical significant relation was found in any case, although an increase of the risk for amyloidosis related to the frequency of infections and to the vasoocclusive crises could be proved.