Health News
64 condition specific health news pages

Amyloidosis

A group of diseases in which insoluble protein fibers are deposited in tissues and organs, impairing their function. These proteins called amyloid proteins Primary amyloidosis is rare, occurring only in 1 out of 100,000 people.

Amyloidosis is know to effect different organs if different people. Some of the organs that can be involved include:

tongue
intestines
muscles
ligaments
nerves
skin
heart
liver
spleen
kidneys.

It can also cause decreased heart function, kidney failure, carpal tunnel syndrome, malabsorption, gastrointestinal reflux, and other conditions. The deposits infiltrate the affected organs, causing them to lose resilience and become stiff, which decreases their ability to function.

Amyloidosis as a symptom (know as secondary amyloidosis) can be caused by infection, inflammatory diseases, and sometimes cancer.

Symptoms of amyloidosis

fatigue

numbness of hands and feet

weak hand grip

weight loss

shortness of breath

swelling of the extremities

swallowing difficulties

irregular heart rhythm

skin changes

enlarged tongue

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

weakness

urine output, decreased

Diagnosis of amyloidosis

A physical examination that shows several of the symptoms will cause your doctor to perform a urine and \blood test. It these tests detect an abnormal protein this could be suggest amyloidosis. If so your doctor will probably do a biopsy to determine for sure.

If specific organ damage is suspected, testing to confirm amyloidosis of that organ may be performed.

biopsy of a tissue or organ will be positive for amyloid. A skin biopsy that includes subcutaneous fat, a rectal mucosa biopsy, or a bone marrow biopsy can help confirm the diagnosis.
heart evaluation may reveal arrhythmias, abnormal heart sounds, or signs of heart failure.
- ECG shows abnormalities.
- echocardiogram shows poor wall motion because of a stiff heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).
kidney function evaluation may reveal renal failure or nephrotic syndrome (excessive protein in the urine).
- Urinalysis shows protein, casts, or fat bodies.
- Serum creatinine is increased.
- BUN is increased.
abdominal ultrasound may reveal enlarged liver or spleen.
evaluation for carpal tunnel syndrome may reveal involvement of the nerve:
- Nerve conduction velocity shows a conduction block.
- Hand grips are weak because of weakness of the thumb.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

tongue biopsy

nerve biopsy

myocardial biopsy

gum biopsy

carpal tunnel biopsy

Bence-Jones protein (quantitative)

immunoelectrophoresis - serum

quantitative immunoglobulins

urine protein

Treatment of amyloidosis

One of the main treatments for patients with primary amyloidosis is chemotherapy. directed at the abnormal plasma cells. In secondary amyloidosis, aggressive treatment of the underlying disease can improve symptoms and/or slow progression of disease. Complications such as heart failure, kidney failure, and other problems can sometimes be treated as necessary.

Modified 3-8-2011
Information compiled from the National Institutes of Health by Steven Bell

Amyloidosis Treatment

Amyloidosis Picture

More Information on Amyloidosis

Primary	Symptoms	lichen	macular
systemic	kidney	familial	coughing
picture	secondary	cardiac	hereditary

This web site is intended for your own informational purposes only. No person or entity associated with this web site purports to be engaging in the practice of medicine through this medium. The information you receive is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician or other health care professional. If you have an illness or medical problem, contact your health care provider.