Role of high-dose melphalan and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in AL amyloidosis.

AL amyloidosis is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis and is associated with an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. The disease is often difficult to recognize because of its broad range of manifestations and, what are often, vague symptoms. Recent diagnostic and prognostic advances include the serum free light chain assay, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and serologic cardiac biomarkers. Treatment strategies that have evolved during the past decade are prolonging survival and preserving organ function in patients with this disease. This review outlines the role of high dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation in the treatment of AL amyloidosis.