Amyloidosis
The Build-up of amyloid proteins in the heart, kidney, liver or other organs. Amyloidosis is when an abnormal protein called amyloid builds up in your tissues and organs. When it does, it affects their shape and how they work. Amyloidosis is a serious health problem that can lead to life-threatening organ failure.
Causes & types pf Amyloidosis:
Many different proteins can lead to amyloid deposits, but only a few have been linked to major health problems. The type of protein and where it collects tells the type of amyloidosis you have. Amyloid deposits may collect throughout your body or in just one area.
The different proteins include:
Al amyloidosis(immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis).
This is the most common type and used to be called primary amyloidosis. AL stands for amyloid light chains, which is the type of protein responsible for the condition. There's no known cause, but it happens when your bone marrow makes abnormal antibodies that can't be broken down. It's linked with a blood cancer called multiple myeloma. It can affect your kidneys, heart, liver, intestines, and nerves.
AA amyloidosis.
Previously known as secondary amyloidosis, this condition is the result of other chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis. It mostly affects your kidneys, but it can also upset your digestive tract, liver, and heart. AA means the amyloid type A protein causes this type.
Dialysis-related amyloidosis(DRA):
This is more common in older adults and people who have been on dialysis for more than 5 years. This form of amyloidosis is caused by deposits of beta-2 microglobulin that build up in the blood. Deposits can build up in many different tissues, but it most commonly affects bones, joints, and tendon.
Familial, or hereditary, amyloidosis:
This is a rare form passed down through families. It often affects the liver, nerves, heart, and kidneys. Many genetic defects are linked to a higher chance of amyloid disease, for example, abnormal protein-like transthyretin (TTR) can be the cause.
Age-related (senile) systemic amyloidosis:
This is caused by deposits of normal TTR in the heart and other tissues. It happens most commonly in older men.
Organ-specific amyloidosis:
This causes the deposit of amyloid protein in single organs, including the skin (cutaneous amyloidosis ). Though some types of amyloid deposits have been linked to Alzheimer's disease, the brain is rarely affected by amyloidosis that happens throughout your body.
Risk factors for amyloidosis:
Men get amyloidosis more often than women. Your risk for amyloidosis goes up as you grow older. amyloidosis affects 15% of patients with a form of cancer called multiple myeloma. amyloidosis may also happen in people with end-stage kidney disease who are on dialysis for a long time.
Symptoms of amyloidosis:
Symptoms of amyloidosis are often subtle. They can also vary greatly depending on where the amyloid protein is collecting in the body. It is important to note that the symptoms described below may be due to a variety of health problems.
General symptoms of amyloidosis may include:
Symptoms of amyloidosis are often subtle. They can also vary greatly depending on where the amyloid protein is collecting in the body. It is important to note that the symptoms described below may be due to various health problems.
General symptoms:
- Changes in skin color
- Severe fatigue
- Feeling of fullness
- Joint pain
- Low red blood cell count(Anemia)
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling fo the tongue
- Tingling and numbness in legs and feet
- Weak hand grip
- Severe weakness
- Sudden weight loss
Cardiac (Heart) Amyloidosis:
Amyloid deposits in the heart can make the walls of the heart muscle stiff. They can also make the heart muscle weaker and affect the electrical rhythm of the heart. This condition can cause less blood to flow to your heart. Eventually, your heart will no longer be able to pump normally. if amyloidosis affects your heart, may have:
- Shortness of breath with light activity
- An irregular heartbeat
- Signs of heart failure, including swelling of the feet and ankles, weakness, fatigue, and nausea, among others.
Renal Amyloidosis:
Kidneys filter waste and toxins from your blood. Amyloid deposits in the kidneys make it hard for them to do this job. When kidneys do not work properly, water and dangerous toxins build up in the body. If amyloidosis affects the kidneys, may here:
- Signs of kidney failure, including swelling of the feet and ankles and puffiness around the eyes
- High levels of protein in the urine.
Gastrointestinal Amyloidosis:
Amyloid deposits along your gastrointestinal tract slow down the movement of food through the intestine. This interferes with digestion. If amyloidosis affects your GI tract, you may have:
- Less Appetit
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Weight loss
Amyloid Neuropathy:
Amyloid deposits can damage the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord called the peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves carry information between your brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. Brain perceive pain if you burn your hand or stun your toes. If amyloidosis affects nerves:
- Balance problems
- Problems controlling your bladder and bowel
- Sweating problems
- Tingling and weakness
- Lightheadedness when standing due to problems with your body's ability to control blood pressure.
Diagnosing Amyloidosis:
A thorough physical exam and a detailed and accurate account of your medical history are crucial in helping your doctor diagnose amyloidosis. Blood and urine tests can spot abnormal proteins.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also check your thyroid and liver. Biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of amyloidosis and know the specific type of protein you have. The tissue sample for the biopsy may be taken from your belly fat, bone marrow, or sometimes your mouth, rectum, or other organs. It's not always necessary to biopsy the part of the body damaged by the amyloid deposits.
Imaging tests can also help. they show the amount of damage to organs like your heart, liver, or spleen.
Amyloidosis can be deadly, especially if it affects your heart or kidneys. Early diagnosis and treatment are important and can help improve survival.
Researchers continue to question why some types of amyloid make people sick and how the formation of amyloid can be stopped.
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Many different proteins can lead to amyloid deposits, but only a few have been linked to major health problems. The type of protein and where it collects tells the type of amyloidosis you have. Amyloid deposits may collect throughout your body or in just one area.
The different proteins include:
Al amyloidosis(immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis).
This is the most common type and used to be called primary amyloidosis. AL stands for amyloid light chains, which is the type of protein responsible for the condition. There's no known cause, but it happens when your bone marrow makes abnormal antibodies that can't be broken down. It's linked with a blood cancer called multiple myeloma. It can affect your kidneys, heart, liver, intestines, and nerves.
AA amyloidosis.
Previously known as secondary amyloidosis, this condition is the result of other chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis. It mostly affects your kidneys, but it can also upset your digestive tract, liver, and heart. AA means the amyloid type A protein causes this type.
Dialysis-related amyloidosis(DRA):
This is more common in older adults and people who have been on dialysis for more than 5 years. This form of amyloidosis is caused by deposits of beta-2 microglobulin that build up in the blood. Deposits can build up in many different tissues, but it most commonly affects bones, joints, and tendon.
Familial, or hereditary, amyloidosis:
This is a rare form passed down through families. It often affects the liver, nerves, heart, and kidneys. Many genetic defects are linked to a higher chance of amyloid disease, for example, abnormal protein-like transthyretin (TTR) can be the cause.
Age-related (senile) systemic amyloidosis:
This is caused by deposits of normal TTR in the heart and other tissues. It happens most commonly in older men.
Organ-specific amyloidosis:
This causes the deposit of amyloid protein in single organs, including the skin (cutaneous amyloidosis ). Though some types of amyloid deposits have been linked to Alzheimer's disease, the brain is rarely affected by amyloidosis that happens throughout your body.
Risk factors for amyloidosis:
Men get amyloidosis more often than women. Your risk for amyloidosis goes up as you grow older. amyloidosis affects 15% of patients with a form of cancer called multiple myeloma. amyloidosis may also happen in people with end-stage kidney disease who are on dialysis for a long time.
Symptoms of amyloidosis:
Symptoms of amyloidosis are often subtle. They can also vary greatly depending on where the amyloid protein is collecting in the body. It is important to note that the symptoms described below may be due to a variety of health problems.
General symptoms of amyloidosis may include:
Symptoms of amyloidosis are often subtle. They can also vary greatly depending on where the amyloid protein is collecting in the body. It is important to note that the symptoms described below may be due to various health problems.
General symptoms:
- Changes in skin color
- Severe fatigue
- Feeling of fullness
- Joint pain
- Low red blood cell count(Anemia)
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling fo the tongue
- Tingling and numbness in legs and feet
- Weak hand grip
- Severe weakness
- Sudden weight loss
Cardiac (Heart) Amyloidosis:
Amyloid deposits in the heart can make the walls of the heart muscle stiff. They can also make the heart muscle weaker and affect the electrical rhythm of the heart. This condition can cause less blood to flow to your heart. Eventually, your heart will no longer be able to pump normally. if amyloidosis affects your heart, may have:
- Shortness of breath with light activity
- An irregular heartbeat
- Signs of heart failure, including swelling of the feet and ankles, weakness, fatigue, and nausea, among others.
Renal Amyloidosis:
Kidneys filter waste and toxins from your blood. Amyloid deposits in the kidneys make it hard for them to do this job. When kidneys do not work properly, water and dangerous toxins build up in the body. If amyloidosis affects the kidneys, may here:
- Signs of kidney failure, including swelling of the feet and ankles and puffiness around the eyes
- High levels of protein in the urine.
Gastrointestinal Amyloidosis:
Amyloid deposits along your gastrointestinal tract slow down the movement of food through the intestine. This interferes with digestion. If amyloidosis affects your GI tract, you may have:
- Less Appetit
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Weight loss
Amyloid Neuropathy:
Amyloid deposits can damage the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord called the peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves carry information between your brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. Brain perceive pain if you burn your hand or stun your toes. If amyloidosis affects nerves:
- Balance problems
- Problems controlling your bladder and bowel
- Sweating problems
- Tingling and weakness
- Lightheadedness when standing due to problems with your body's ability to control blood pressure.
Diagnosing Amyloidosis:
A thorough physical exam and a detailed and accurate account of your medical history are crucial in helping your doctor diagnose amyloidosis. Blood and urine tests can spot abnormal proteins.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also check your thyroid and liver. Biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of amyloidosis and know the specific type of protein you have. The tissue sample for the biopsy may be taken from your belly fat, bone marrow, or sometimes your mouth, rectum, or other organs. It's not always necessary to biopsy the part of the body damaged by the amyloid deposits.
Imaging tests can also help. they show the amount of damage to organs like your heart, liver, or spleen.
Amyloidosis can be deadly, especially if it affects your heart or kidneys. Early diagnosis and treatment are important and can help improve survival.
Researchers continue to question why some types of amyloid make people sick and how the formation of amyloid can be stopped.
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