Reduced taste perception in AL amyloidosis. A frequently unnoticed sensory impairment

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Sporadic observations suggest a possible taste impairment in AL amyloidosis, but the frequency and intensity of this sensory anomaly are not known. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We submitted 21 AL amyloidotic patients, drawn from subjects referred to the Amyloidosis Study Center of the Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, to suprathreshold scaling analysis. RESULTS. Taste acuity was reduced in most of them. Every taste showed independent behavior, and 90% of these patients were hypogeusic. True ageusia for one or two tastes was observed in 35% of patients. No patient was aware of reduced taste acuity. Macroglossia did not seem to play a prominent role in dulling tastes. CONCLUSIONS. Impairment of taste perception suggests that gustative neuropathy is a frequently unnoticed expression of sensory involvement in AL amyloidosis.