and physicians may not expect to see amyloidosis in their
practice. Moreover, because the condition’s nonspecific,
ever-worsening symptoms (e.g., being tired or out of breath)
may be mistaken for more common problems of lung and
cardiovascular disease, it is very likely that the actual preva-
lence of amyloidosis is greater than now recognized.
It is imperative for clinicians and pathologists to consider
amyloidosis as part of their differential diagnosis (discussed
in section 4). Given the unique staining and spectroscopic
properties of amyloid proteins, it is a simple matter to test
for the disease. Early, accurate diagnosis is essential for pa-
tients to benefit from new treatments (discussed in section
5) that are available to improve and extend life.