Amyloidosis is a rare disease, one that appears when your body begins increasing the presence of a particular protein. When this protein, amyloid, begins building up inside your organs, it can cause serious health changes and complications. It can even interfere with your organs’ ability to function. If you’ve never heard of amyloidosis before, you aren’t alone – but you can learn more by searching online.
Amyloidosis can occur on its own or in connection with other health conditions. And once amyloidosis appears, it can cause devastating effects on your digestive system, your heart, and other critical organs. It can even lead to life-threatening organ failure. In order to catch amyloidosis when it begins, you need to search online and learn about its risk factors, causes, and symptoms.
What Causes Amyloidosis?
Amyloidosis is caused by a number of factors. This rare disease is complicated, and it can appear in many different forms or as the result of many changes to your health.
There is no one cause of amyloidosis. Instead, a number of different factors can lead to the appearance or buildup of amyloid protein in the body. It simply depends on what’s happening in your unique situation.
And each different type of amyloidosis has its own cause and can affect you differently. The types of amyloidosis are:
- AL amyloidosis, which is the most common type.
- AA amyloidosis, which is typically triggered by inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
- Hereditary amyloidosis, which is passed down by family or genetics.
- Wild-type amyloidosis, which tends to appear in men age 70 and older.
- Localized amyloidosis, which affects just one particular part of the body.
Your doctor may be able to pinpoint the exact cause of your case of amyloidosis based on your symptoms, its location, and any other health conditions you might have.
Who’s At Risk for Amyloidosis?
In addition to understanding what can cause amyloidosis, it’s important to be aware of its risk factors. If you have any potential risk factors in your health history, you may be more likely to develop some form of the condition.
The following factors can increase your risk for amyloidosis:
- Age. Individuals are typically diagnosed at age 50 or older.
- Gender. 70 percent of amyloidosis cases occur in men.
- Race. African Americans have a greater risk of developing hereditary amyloidosis.
- Family history.
- A history of health conditions connected to amyloidosis.
- Being on dialysis.
You can ask your doctor about your risks and potential for developing amyloidosis.
Symptoms of Amyloidosis
When amyloidosis begins, it typically doesn’t show any signs or symptoms. You won’t notice any changes to your health, and you’ll likely seem perfectly healthy.
Amyloidosis tends to present symptoms only when it becomes advanced. This means you’ll likely notice changes only once there’s a significant buildup of the amyloid protein in your body.
Once symptoms do begin, they can vary significantly. Your symptoms will depend on where the amyloid is built up in your body and which organs are affected. That means your symptoms can appear anywhere in the body – and they might have localized or far-reaching effects.
- Amyloidosis symptoms can include:
- Swelling in the ankles and legs.
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet.
- Wrist pain or carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Diarrhea.
- Constipation.
- Blood in the stool.
- An enlarged tongue.
- Changes to skin, including thickening or easy bruising.
- Shortness of breath, even with minimal exertion.
- Difficulty breathing when lying down flat.
- An irregular heartbeat.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Fatigue.
- Weakness.
- Unexpected or unexplained weight loss.
If you think you might be experiencing symptoms of amyloidosis, make sure to talk with your doctor.
How Amyloidosis is Treated
Unfortunately, there is no cure for amyloidosis. When you’re diagnosed with this disease, you and your doctor have to work to manage its effects and its growth. Most amyloidosis treatments try to slow the production of the amyloid protein and lessen your symptoms.
If you’re diagnosed with amyloidosis, your doctor will likely recommend one or a number of the following general treatments:
- Pain relievers.
- Medication for managing diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
- Diuretics.
- Blood thinners.
- Medications for controlling heart rate.
If these general medications or treatment options aren’t effective, your doctor may also try or recommend treatments that are specific to each type of amyloidosis.
Treatments that are based on your specific type of amyloidosis can vary. Your doctor will work to target your treatment towards the areas of your body that are most affected. For example, AL amyloidosis might be treated with chemotherapy in order to destroy blood cells that produce amyloid. AA amyloidosis may be treated with antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications. Other types, like hereditary amyloidosis, might require more extensive treatment like a liver transplant.
No matter what your doctor decides is the best treatment, it’s important to remember that amyloidosis cannot be cured. It can only be managed or slowed. Treatment can help your symptoms and help you live normally, but it may require a number of treatment options. You can always speak with your doctor if you need to try something new to soothe any changes or health concerns you’re worried about.