The Interpretation of Congophilia in Tissue Biopsies: Caution Required

Amyloidoses are diseases caused by tissue deposits that consist of an abnormally folded protein. Currently at least 36 protein types, and many more variants, have been identified in human amyloidoses. Despite the chemical diversity of the amyloid fibril-forming proteins, all amyloid deposits share an affinity for Congo red dye and have the same ultrastructural properties. Recent decades have seen remarkable progress in the treatment of patients with several types of systemic amyloidosis, as evidenced by a durable treatment response and enhanced long-term survival when the disease is diagnosed early, before significant organ injury occurs.

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