[Hepatic amyloidosis as a rare differential diagnosis of progressive liver failure]

Primary systemic amyloidosis is a rare disorder resulting in extracellular deposition of insoluble fibrils in different organs. Liver involvement has been reported. Since hepatic amyloidosis often presents clinically asymptomatic without specific laboratory or imaging hallmarks, diagnosis is challenging. However, cases of progressive hepatic failure due to liver amyloidosis have been reported. A 63 year old man presented with newly diagnosed ascites to our department. The patient reported occasional alcohol consumption. Viral hepatitis, genetic-metabolic causes as well as hepatic vascular disorders were excluded and ultrasound did not show any signs of liver cirrhosis or intraabdominal malignancy. Initially, alcoholic hepatitis was suspected. Due to the rapid deterioration of liver function, however, transjugular liver biopsy was performed showing light chain amyloidosis of kappa isotype. As diagnosis of hepatic amyloidosis is challenging, early liver biopsy is mandatory in patients with unexplained acute or chronic liver disease to exclude rare diseases with high mortality.