ABSTRACT
Early identification of patients with poor nutritional status or an inadequate nutrient intake is essential in order to identify at risk patients and to target nutritional intervention towards those likely to benefit from it. To date, the nutritional status of patients with Primary systemic amyloidosis (AL) has not been exhaustively evaluated, nor has been proposed any specific methodological approach. This chapter provides information regarding the nutritional status of a representative sample of AL outpatients and investigates its relation with some clinical features of the disease. It shows that the nutritional status of patients with systemic AL amyloidosis is impaired with regards to several features. Unintentional weight loss is related to the severity of the disease, while anthropometric measurements are of limited importance in AL. Transthyretin concentration below the lower reference limit is a good indicator of undernutrition.
