Only one in 1 million gets the rarest vascular limited amyloidosis

* Kurnool KIMS doctors find multiple myeloma as the primary reason

* Early detection leads to recovery of the patient

Cancer is rarely detected in the earlier stages. The sooner it can be detected, the sooner it can be treated. After examining an elderly man with a kidney-related problem, doctors at Kurnool KIMS Hospital found that he had started developing Cancer. As a result, treatment started immediately and all issues were resolved. Consultant nephrologist and transplant physician Dr. K. Anantha Rao provided the case details.

“Govindappa, a 64-year-old resident of the Aluru area of Kurnool district, was admitted to KIMS hospital after he complained of breathlessness, swelling in his legs, and reduced urination. He visited another facility earlier, couldn’t find relief, and later came here. The nephrology department of the hospital conducted a proper medical examination of him and found blood and protein leaking in the urine. Serum creatinine levels also elevated to 3.5 mg/dl. On an ultrasound scan of the abdomen, the kidneys appeared abnormal. However, the cause of his kidney failure is not known. To know that, we have done a kidney biopsy. Then, we found that he had a rarest vascular limited amyloidosis, which is usually found in only one patient of every 1 million people. Further evaluation was done to identify the cause for this disease including serum protein electrophoresis and bone marrow biopsy which revealed the underlying cause to be multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. In this disease, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins which get deposited in the heart and kidney leading to the failure of these organs.

The patient was started on chemotherapy for myeloma, after which his condition improved. The root cause of his heart and kidney failure was the presence of blood cancer which was identified early in this case and we could save the life of the patient. Delay in diagnosis in such cases may lead to irreversible organ failures and death. This case outlines the importance of kidney biopsy in not only identifying the cause of kidney disease but also recognizing underlying systemic disease, blood cancer in this patient. Kidney biopsy is routinely done at KIMS, for needy patients and more than 500 biopsies have been performed so far. At KIMS hospital, the Kurnool nephrology department is run by Dr. Anantha Rao and Dr. Suresh. They provide state-of-the-art facilities including CRRT and a successful transplant program. For comprehensive care and a second opinion about kidney problems, contact KIMS hospital, Kurnool, Nephrology department 9000819193” he explained.