Hepatic Function in Patients With Amyloidosis

The marked pathologic changes that occur when the liver is infiltrated with amyloid make functional studies of such an organ of more than academic interest. The paucity of reports in the literature is due to the uncertainty in clinical diagnosis and to the comparative lack of material, since in general hospitals amyloidosis is infrequently seen. We have attempted to surmount these difficulties by using the improved congo red absorption test1to confirm the diagnosis and by conducting our studies at a large hospital for tuberculous patients (Sea View). SOURCE OF MATERIAL Patients who showed 100 per cent absorption of congo red dye from the blood stream at the end of one-half hour after the intravenous injection of 10 cc. were chosen for this study. Most patients presented albuminuria and cylindruria of varying degree, and a significant number had enlarged palpable livers and tuberculous enterocolitis. The presence of an enlarged