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Amyloidosis (am-uh-loi-DO-sis) is a rare disease that occurs when an abnormal protein, called amyloid, builds up in your organs and interferes with their normal function. Amyloid isn't normally found in the body, but it can be formed from several different types of protein.
- What is the main cause of amyloidosis?
- What is the life expectancy of someone with amyloidosis?
- Is amyloidosis a form of cancer?
- Can amyloidosis be cured?
- What does amyloidosis of the skin look like?
- What are the stages of amyloidosis?
- Is amyloidosis a death sentence?
- Does amyloidosis cause weight gain?
- Is amyloid an autoimmune disease?
- How do you stop amyloid build up?
- Does amyloidosis run in families?
- Does amyloidosis affect the eyes?
- Does amyloidosis show up in blood tests?
What is the main cause of amyloidosis?
In general, amyloidosis is caused by the buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid. Amyloid is produced in your bone marrow and can be deposited in any tissue or organ.
What is the life expectancy of someone with amyloidosis?
On average, people with familial ATTR amyloidosis live for 7 to 12 years after they get their diagnosis, according to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. A study published in the journal Circulation found that people with wild-type ATTR amyloidosis live an average of about 4 years after diagnosis.
Is amyloidosis a form of cancer?
Amyloidosis is a rare disorder. Although it is not a type of cancer, it may be associated with certain blood cancers like multiple myeloma. Because amyloidosis is rare, it has been difficult to study.
Can amyloidosis be cured?
There's no cure for amyloidosis. But treatment can help manage signs and symptoms and limit further production of amyloid protein. If the amyloidosis has been triggered by another condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or tuberculosis, treating the underlying condition can be helpful.
What does amyloidosis of the skin look like?
Lichen amyloidosis is characterized by severely itchy patches of thickened skin with multiple small bumps. The patches are scaly and reddish brown in color. These patches usually occur on the shins but can also occur on the forearms, other parts of the legs, and elsewhere on the body.
What are the stages of amyloidosis?
Stage I (TnI <0.1 ng/mL and NT-proBNP <332 pg/mL), stage II (TnI >0.1 ng/mL and NT-proBNP >332 pg/mL), and stage III (TnI >0.1 ng/mL and NT-proBNP >332 pg/mL). Stage I (TnI <0.1 ng/mL and BNP <81 pg/mL), stage II (TnI >0.1 ng/mL or NT-proBNP >81 pg/mL), and stage III (TnI >0.1 ng/mL and NT-proBNP >81 pg/mL).
Is amyloidosis a death sentence?
“A generation ago, a diagnosis of AL amyloidosis often was a death sentence, particularly when it involved the heart, but in the last 10 years treatments have improved by leaps and bounds so we can now give very effective treatments to many patients with the disease,” Witteles says.
Does amyloidosis cause weight gain?
These patients tend to show with multiple symptoms, as you mentioned. If the deposition is in the heart, it will come with heart failure symptoms, like shortness of breath, cough, fatigue. But at the same time, they might have the deposition in the kidneys and they will come with swelling legs, weight gain.
Is amyloid an autoimmune disease?
With AA amyloidosis, the underlying condition is an autoimmune disease or chronic infection.
How do you stop amyloid build up?
The two most important strategies for halting the accumulation of amyloid are currently in clinical trials and include: Immunotherapy—This utilizes antibodies that are either developed in a laboratory or induced by the administration of a vaccine to attack the amyloid and promote its clearance from brain.
Does amyloidosis run in families?
ATTR amyloidosis can run in families and is known as hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. People with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis carry mutations in the TTR gene. This means their bodies produce abnormal TTR proteins throughout their lives, which can form amyloid deposits. These usually affect the nerves or the heart, or both.
Does amyloidosis affect the eyes?
Amyloidosis is a diverse, heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the deposition of hyaline extracellular material into various tissues throughout the body including the eye and ocular adnexa. Ocular Amyloidosis has been reported in almost every part of the eye as well as adnexal and orbital tissues.
Does amyloidosis show up in blood tests?
Amyloidosis can be difficult to diagnose. There is no specific blood test and results of investigations vary greatly from patient to patient. The diagnosis of amyloidosis starts when a doctor becomes suspicious of the patient's symptoms. A definitive diagnosis of amyloidosis can only be made through a biopsy.
