ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Amyloidosis

What is amyloidosis?

4 May 2021

It is a condition in which the protein called amyloid is stored in the organs, hindering their physiology. In general, amyloid does not exist in the body naturally, but its formation is due to the conjunction of various proteins or as a result of the presence of other pathologies.

Like any disease, certain factors can contribute to its development:

  • Family members with amyloidosis.
  • It is more frequent in males.
  • Being over 60 years old.
  • Chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases.
  • Dialysis treatments.

There are different types of amyloidosis, including:

  • Primary: affects heart, liver, nervous system, and kidneys.
  • Secondary: occurs as a result of an inflammatory disease, altering the spleen, liver, and kidneys’ function.
  • Hereditary: it generally affects the heart, nerves, and kidneys.
  • Senile or wild systemic: attacks elderly men, damaging the heart.
  • Focused: usually appears in the throat, skin, lungs, and bladder.

Signs and symptoms Amyloidosis

There are usually no symptoms at the beginning of the disease, but as it progresses, the symptoms are:

  • Skin thickening.
  • Bruising.
  • Purple-colored spots surrounding the eyeballs.
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Stiffness and tingling in the hands or feet.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Constipation.
  • Trouble breathing with any light exertion or physical activity.
  • Tiredness.
  • Weakness.
  • Arrhythmia.
  • Enlarged tongue
  • Decreased body weight.
  • Swollen legs and ankles.
  • Swallowing problems.

Risks and complications depend on the damaged organs, so it is important to see your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms so they can assess you since a timely and accurate diagnosis will help prevent further damage.

Diagnosis and treatment Amyloidosis

Once your doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history, he or she will perform a physical examination and order blood and urine tests to determine if any abnormal proteins indicate amyloidosis. You may also require a skin tissue biopsy and imaging studies such as an echocardiogram, MRI, and nuclear tests to learn about the damaged organs.

The indicated treatment will be established based on the affected organ and its severity, although the main objectives will be to reduce the generation and concentration of amyloid protein, as well as to reduce symptoms through:

  • Surgery.
  • Dialysis.
  • Medication.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Targeted therapy
  • Transplantation of stem cells or of an affected organ.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Amyloidosis

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • cun.es
  • topodoctors
  • medigraphic.com
  • Soto AMV, Rodríguez-Martínez HA, Navarro RF, et al. Amiloidosis pulmonar y linfoma no Hodgkin de linfocitos pequeños. Rev Fac Med UNAM. 2000;43(2):61-66.
  • Lachira-Yparraguirre L, Al-kassab-Córdova A, Quispe-Silvestre E, et al. Amiloidosis cardiaca secundaria a macroglobulinemia de Waldenström. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter. 2020;36(3):.
  • García-Olea A, Rekondo JG, Maeztu M, et al. Amiloidosis cardiaca por transtiretina con una presentación clínica atípica: miocardiopatía dilatada. Cardiovasc Metab Sci . 2021;32(2):101-104. doi:10.35366/99747.
  • Olea-Sánchez EG, Sánchez-Moreno EC, Hernández-Salcedo DR, et al. Síndrome nefrótico por amiloidosis AL asociado con gammapatía monoclonal de cadenas ligeras lambda. Med Int Mex. 2020;36(5):722-726.

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