Characterization of tissue amyloid by immunofluorescence microscopy.

Immunohistochemical classification of amyloid type was possible in 44 of 50 (88%) patients as judged by the concordance of immunofluorescence, clinical, serum, and urine immunoelectrophoresis, and bone marrow data. In frozen tissue sections incubated with a panel of antisera monospecific for immunoglobulin heavy chains, kappa and lambda light chains, and amyloid-A-related protein, the amyloid was classified as AL in 20 and AA in 24. In 6 patients the amyloid could not be classified because of the absence of reactivity in 2 and overlap staining in 4. The findings indicate that routine immunofluorescence examination of diagnostic biopsies is an important adjunct in the classification of amyloid.