Geographical distribution of amyloidosis in Papua New Guinea.

During an 11 year period 73 cases of amyloidosis were diagnosed at Port Moresby General Hospital as a result of histological examination of autopsy or biopsy material. No case of amyloidosis came from either the Highlands or North Coast regions although these two areas together accounted for 16% of the medical admissions at the hospital and made up a similar percentage of Port Moresby's Papua New Guinean population. Within the sub-district in which Port Moresby is situated there was a much higher incidence of amyloidosis in the inland, more sparsely populated, census divisions of the sub-district. Aetiological factors which may be related to the common occurrence of amyloidosis in Papua New Guinea are discussed in light of the observed geographical distribution of cases.