Amyloidosis Definition, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Cost

Definition

Amyloidosis is a group of rare diseases. It involves deposits of a protein called amyloid. These proteins build up in body tissues and organs. There are three major forms:

• Primary amyloidosis—found in the heart, lungs, skin, tongue, thyroid gland, intestines, liver, kidneys, and blood vessels
• Secondary amyloidosis—found in the spleen, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, and lymph nodes
• Hereditary amyloidosis—found in the nerves, heart, blood vessels, and kidneys

The build up of amyloid can make it difficult for the organ or tissue to function. These conditions are serious. They require care from your doctor.

Causes

The causes of amyloidosis vary in its different forms.

• Primary amyloidosis—caused by the deposit of antibody fragments; associated with bone marrow disorders (eg, multiple myeloma)
• Secondary amyloidosis—develops in response to chronic infection or inflammatory disease
• Hereditary amyloidosis—caused by mutations of amyloid in the blood

Risk Factors

The following factors increase your chance of developing amyloidosis:

• Primary amyloidosis
  • Sex—men are at greater risk
  • Age—older than 40
  • Multiple myeloma
• Secondary amyloidosis
  • Sex—men are at greater risk
  • Age—older than 40
  • Underlying chronic inflammatory or infectious diseases, such as: tuberculosis,rheumatoid arthritis, osteomyelitis
  • History of Mediterranean fever
  • Hemodialysis —removal of blood from the arteries, cleansing it, adding nutrients, and returning it to the veins
  • Family history
• Hereditary amyloidosis
  • Ethnicity: Portuguese, Swedish, Japanese
  • Familial Mediterranean fever

Symptoms

If you experience one or more of these, contact your doctor.

• Symptoms for all forms of amyloidosis:
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Enlarged liver
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Signs of heart failure

The extent of the disease and the type of organ affected determine the symptoms if any. They can vary from mild to severe. The following is a list of additional symptoms as they relate to specific body systems:

• Urinary tract— kidney failure
• Skin—easy bruising, skin purpura (purplish skin around the eyes caused by small blood vessels leaking into the skin)
• Lymphatic system—enlarged lymph nodes
• Endocrine system—enlarged thyroid gland
• Digestive system
  • Swallowing difficulties
  • Enlarged tongue
  • Enlarged liver
  • Diarrhea
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract)
  • Clay colored stools
• Neurological system
  • Dementia —possible link to development of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Numbness, tingling, weakness in hands and feet
  • Swelling of nerves in the wrist
  • Weak hand grip
• Cardiovascular system
  • Fluid accumulation in the tissues, causing swelling (edema)
  • Abnormal heart rhythm ( arrhythmia)
  • Enlarged heart
  • Heart failure
  • Sudden death
  • Respiratory system
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath