Amyloidosis
Overview
Amyloidosis is a group of rare conditions where a protein called amyloid builds up in your body. It can affect organs such as your heart, kidneys, liver, nerves or digestive system. It cannot be cured, but there are treatments that may help with symptoms.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of amyloidosis include: feeling very tired or weaklosing weight without trying toshortness of breathswollen feet or legsbruising around your eyes Other symptoms depend on which parts of your body are affected, so you may not have all the symptoms. They can include: a fast or slow heartbeat or chest pain, if your heart is affectedloss of appetite, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea or constipation, if your digestive system is affectedfrothy pee, if your kidneys are affectedpain, numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, if your nerves are affected These symptoms can be caused by many different conditions. Having them does not definitely mean you have amyloidosis. But it's important to get them checked by a GP.
Causes
There are several types of amyloidosis, with different causes. AL amyloidosis A problem with your bone marrow. Sometimes linked withmultiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer. AA amyloidosis Long-term inflammatory conditions such asrheumatoid arthritis,Crohn's diseaseorulcerative colitis, or infectious diseases such astuberculosis (TB). Hereditary ATTR amyloidosis An inherited genetic condition. Wild-type ATTR amyloidosis Develops as you get older, usually affecting men over 75 years old. Beta-2 microglobulin amyloidosis Having long-termdialysis.
Treatment
There's no cure for amyloidosis, but some types can be managed well through treatment to improve the symptoms. But for some people, amyloidosis eventually leads to organs such as your heart or kidneys no longer working properly. Your doctor will explain your treatment options and what to expect. If your amyloidosis is caused by another health condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, treating the condition can improve your symptoms. Other treatments depend on what type of amyloidosis you have and what parts of your body are affected. Treatments may include: medicines to help with symptoms, such as painkillers, anti-sickness medicines, or medicines that reduce swelling (diuretics)medicines to reduce the amount of amyloid your body produceskidneydialysis, if your kidneys are not working properlya kidney transplant or liver transplant, if these organs are damaged If you have AL amyloidosis, caused by a problem with your bone marrow, you may be offered: chemotherapyto destroy the blood cells in your bone marrow that cause the conditionastem cell or bone marrow transplant