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Amyloidosis 101: Symptoms, Types and Treatments

Amyloidosis is a rare disease that affects less than 200,000 people in the Usa. Information technology happens when an aberrant protein called amyloid builds up in your body. These amyloid proteins clump together in your organs or tissues and interfere with how they piece of work. Symptoms depend on where the amyloid builds upwards.

Amyloidosis can atomic number 82 to life-threatening complications, including aberrant heart rhythms and kidney failure. So if you notice symptoms, information technology’s important to talk with your dr. correct away. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available to ease symptoms and forbid complications. Learn more about amyloidosis symptoms, causes and treatments.

During the early stages of amyloidosis, you may non have whatever symptoms at all. As amyloid levels increment, they can damage various organs or body systems, including the center, kidneys, liver and nervous arrangement. Since amyloidosis tin can bear upon so many different parts of your body, information technology can also cause a very broad range of symptoms.

Symptoms may include:

• Fatigue (feeling very tired)
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss
• Numbness or hurting in your hands or anxiety
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Swelling of the ankles or anxiety
• Decreased urine output (peeing less) or foamy urine
• Enlargement of the tongue or trouble swallowing
• Thickened skin or like shooting fish in a barrel bruising on your face or chest
• Dizziness or irregular heartbeat

If you find these symptoms, talk with your doctor to find out what’due south causing them. Information technology’due south important to treat amyloidosis early to prevent more impairment to your body.

Types and Causes of Amyloidosis

There are many different types of amyloidosis with unlike underlying causes. The 4 well-nigh common types of amyloidosis are:

• AL amyloidosis
  (also chosen “primary amyloidosis” or “light chain amyloidosis”) is the well-nigh mutual type of amyloidosis in the United States. Experts aren’t sure what causes this blazon. When yous take AL amyloidosis, your bone marrow produces aberrant amyloid proteins. Information technology usually affects the middle, kidneys, liver and nerves.

• AA
  amyloidosis
  (also called “secondary amyloidosis”) is well-nigh often triggered by another status that causes inflammation, like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel affliction. It usually affects the digestive tract, heart or liver.

• Hereditary
  amyloidosis
  (also chosen “familial amyloidosis”) is inherited  — meaning it’south passed down in families through genes. Information technology involves aberrant product of the poly peptide transthyretin (TTR) by the liver. It normally involves the nervous organization, heart or kidneys.

• Localized
  amyloidosis
  affects just one organ, rather than multiple torso systems. Normally, this blazon of amyloidosis affects the skin, throat, lungs or bladder.

Am I at Risk?

Anyone tin can get amyloidosis, but it’s nearly common in older adults betwixt ages sixty and seventy. It’s also more common in men. You may also exist at higher risk for amyloidosis if you lot have:

• A family history of amyloidosis
• Another chronic infectious or inflammatory condition
• You’re currently on dialysis treatment for kidney disease, or you were in the by

Diagnosing Amyloidosis

If you notice symptoms of amyloidosis, it’due south important to see your doctor right away. Amyloidosis symptoms oft mimic symptoms of other common wellness conditions, and then it can be difficult to diagnose.

Your doctor will ask questions about your medical and family history. Then they may do some tests to detect out if amyloidosis is causing your symptoms. Tests to check for amyloidosis may include:

• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Tissue biopsy (taking a small-scale piece of tissue to wait at under a microscope)
• Imaging tests like an echocardiogram, MRI or nuclear imaging

What Are the Treatments for Amyloidosis?

Though there’south currently no cure for amyloidosis, there are several constructive treatment options to manage your symptoms. If another health condition is causing your amyloidosis, treating that underlying condition can help with amyloidosis symptoms. Treatments for amyloidosis include:

• Chemotherapy
  to minimize the growth of cells that lead to abnormal protein product
• Targeted medication therapy to prevent the buildup of amyloid deposits
• Center medicines similar claret thinners and diuretics manage heart symptoms and prevent complications
• Dialysis
  for people with significant kidney harm, to remove waste from the body
• Organ transplant
  when amyloid deposits have acquired damage to a particular organ

Next Steps

If you lot notice symptoms of amyloidosis, tell your dr. right away.

Like many health conditions, treatments for amyloidosis work best when you lot get a diagnosis and start treatment early. You and your physician can work together to discuss treatment options and find a treatment plan that works for you.

Resource Links:

• “Amyloidosis” via Mayo Clinic
• “What Is Amyloidosis and 10 Signs You Might Have it” via Mayo Clinic News Network
• “Amyloidosis” via MedlinePlus
• “A is for…Amyloidosis” via Amyloidosis Foundation
• “Amyloidosis & Kidney Disease” via NIH