National Amyloidosis Centre

Clinical Staff

Head/Clinical Director Professor Philip Hawkins +44 (0)20 7433 2815/2816
     
Emeritus Professor/Consultant
Professor Sir Mark Pepys
+44 (0)20 7433 2801
     
Senior Lecturers/Consultants Dr Julian Gillmore +44 (0)20 7433 2726

Dr Helen Lachmann +44 (0)20 7433 2804

Dr Ashutosh Wechalekar +44 (0)20 7433 2758

Dr Carol Whelan +44 (0)20 7433 2875
     
Clinical Fellows
Dr Sanjay Banypersad
+44 (0)20 7433 2823
  Dr Jason Dungu
+44 (0)20 7433 2770
  Dr Shameem Mahmood
+44 (0)20 7433 2823 
  Dr Jenny Pinney
+44 (0)20 7433 2823
  Dr Christopher Venner
+44 (0)20 7433 2823 
     
Clinical Research Nurses
 Thirusha Lane (Lead)
 +44 (0)20 7433 2759
  Darren Foard
 +44 (0)20 7433 2714
  Lisa Rannigan
 +44 (0)20 7433 2832
  Nicola Stewart
+44 (0)20 7433 2759
     
Clinic Coordinator
 Eleanor Pyart
 +44 (0)20 7433 2738
Clinic Nurse
 Annie Hughes
 +44 (0)20 7433 2730
     
Academic PA to Consultants
  +44 (0)20 7433 2816
Unit Secretaries
  +44 (0)20 7433 2798/2811/2816
Appointments
Ramon Lamarca
+44 (0)20 7433 2813
Transport & Accommodation
  +44 (0)20 7433 2812
General Enquiries
   +44 (0)20 7433 2725
Fax
   +44 (0)20 7433 2817


The National Amyloidosis Centre is the only centre in the UK specialising in amyloidosis.  It is funded centrally by the NHS and is part of University College London Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins, one of the world’s leading centres for amyloid research.  The National Amyloidosis Centre provides a diagnostic and management advice service for the UK’s national caseload of patients with all types of amyloidosis (and related disorders) other than Alzheimer’s disease, although its research programme does include the latter.  The Centre has “state of the art” clinical and research facilities, and a team of highly qualified clinical, research and support staff.  We pioneered scintigraphic imaging (SAP scanning) of amyloid as a quantitative diagnostic procedure and provide a comprehensive clinical service for patients with all types of acquired and hereditary systemic amyloidosis.  We evaluate nearly 500 new patients with amyloidosis each year and have lately expanded the service to include patients with periodic fever syndromes.

There are three main types of systemic amyloidosis – AA, AL and hereditary - which are described in more detail here.  Systemic AA amyloidosis occurs in up to 5% of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, most commonly rheumatoid arthritis.  Systemic AL amyloidosis occurs in a small proportion of patients who have an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia.  Unfortunately, both AA and AL amyloidosis cause rather non-specific symptoms, and diagnosis is often delayed until many investigations, often culminating in a tissue biopsy, have been performed.  Systemic AL amyloidosis is now two or three times more common than AA type in the UK.

We provide a diagnostic and management advisory service for patients with systemic AA, systemic AL, hereditary systemic and localised amyloidosis (not including Alzheimer’s disease).  Our approach to each patient with amyloidosis is tailored individually to the type of amyloid and to their particular problems.  Wherever possible, patients are discussed with the referring physician, after which we re-examine any available tissue biopsies.  Clinical evaluation of patients can usually be completed over 1-2 days during which time hospital or hotel accommodation can be arranged.  Investigations include whole body SAP scanning to establish the distribution and quantity of amyloid throughout the body, blood and urine tests, a detailed echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart), and specific additional tests that might include DNA analysis (on a blood sample), and a bone marrow examination under local anaesthetic.  Previously obtained histological samples are reviewed and immunohistochemical typing of amyloid is performed.

Treatment is usually administered at patients’ local hospitals or at other regional centres in conjunction with advice from and reviews at the National Amyloidosis Centre.  A small proportion of cases are managed directly by ourselves at the Royal Free Hospital.  Patients can be directly referred to Dr Ashu Wechalekar for treatment of AL amyloidosis at the Myeloma and Dysproteinaemia Clinic at the Department of haematology at the Royal Free Hospital.

Most patients with amyloidosis need long-term surveillance, with six-monthly or annual specialist follow up in the shorter term.  Follow up SAP scintigraphy is the only means of quantitatively monitoring the amyloid deposits, and this information helps determine ongoing requirements for treatment.  A careful balance is required in each patient between administering sufficiently ‘strong’ treatment, and minimising adverse effects.  Another important role of our unit is to provide patients and their families with counselling and information that may not be available elsewhere.

NAC Staff