TY - JOUR T1 - Recent advances in the management of AL Amyloidosis JF - British Journal of Haematology Y1 - 2016 A1 - Kastritis, E. A1 - Dimopoulos, M.A. KW - Heart failure KW - Immunoglobulins KW - Light chains KW - mass spectrometry KW - monoclonal antibodies AB - Immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, the most common of the systemic amyloidosis, is characterized by the deposition of amyloid fibrils that derive from the aggregation of misfolded monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains. Amyloid fibrils disrupt tissue architecture and the pre-fibril oligomers are directly toxic to myocardiac cells, causing cardiac dysfunction. The lethal consequences of AL amyloidosis are due to the toxic product and not due to the malignant behaviour of the plasma cell clone however, the characteristics of this clone are associated with long-term prognosis. Early and accurate diagnosis is the key to effective management, but is challenging. Modern chemotherapy options (including autologous transplantation, bortezomib, lenalidomide) have improved the outcomes of patients at low or intermediate risk, but the prognosis of patients with severe cardiac dysfunction is still poor. Therapies targeting amyloid deposits and the amyloidogenic process are under investigation and offer promise for better future treatments. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. VL - 172 UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84954025980&doi=10.1111%2fbjh.13805&partnerID=40&md5=9c9886bff2c73e1d2a4da14a762e582f IS - 2 N1 - Cited By :7Export Date: 21 February 2017 ER -