Nov. 8, 2018 | Amyloidosis occurs when amyloid proteins are deposited in tissues and organs. Amyloid proteins are abnormal proteins that the body cannot break down and recycle, as it does with normal proteins. When amyloid proteins clump together, they form amyloid deposits. The buildup of these deposits can damage a person’s organs and tissues. Amyloidosis can affect different organs and tissues in different people and can affect more than one organ at the same time. The disease most frequently affects the kidneys, heart, nervous system, liver, and digestive tract. Amyloidosis is rare, often going undiagnosed, which is why it is difficult to know exactly how many people are affected by this disease. Although amyloidosis is not a type of cancer, it may be associated with certain blood cancers like multiple myeloma. There is no cure for amyloidosis but certain treatments can help manage its symptoms and limit the production of amyloid proteins.

Nov. 8, 2018 | Someone with amyloidosis may not experience any symptoms of until the condition is advanced. The symptoms can vary depending on the specific organ or number of organs affected by the buildup of amyloid proteins. Some possible signs of the disease include swelling of the ankles and legs, skin changes that may include purplish patches around the eyes and even an enlarged tongue. An irregular heartbeat, severe fatigue and difficulty in swallowing are other signals that you may have this rare disease. Sometimes, people with amyloidosis don’t have any of these symptoms or they may be the result of another medical condition. All of these factors can make diagnosing amyloidosis challenging because the symptoms may be similar to those of numerous other diseases and conditions that are more common than amyloidosis. Anyone persistently experiencing these symptoms should see a physician to determine the best way to treat them.

Nov. 8, 2018 | Amyloidosis is a serious condition. How harmful it is depends on which organs the amyloid deposits affect. Amyloid can harm the kidneys’ filtering system, causing the protein to leak from your blood into your urine. The kidneys’ ability to remove waste products from your body is lowered, which may eventually lead to kidney failure. Amyloid also reduces your heart’s ability to fill with blood between heartbeats. Less blood is pumped with each beat, causing shortness of breath. If amyloidosis affects your heart’s electrical system, your heart rhythm may be disturbed. Amyloidosis can also affect your nervous system, causing numbness in your fingers or a burning sensation in your feet. If amyloid affects the nerves that control your bowel function, you may experience periods of alternating constipation and diarrhea. If the condition affects nerves that control blood pressure, you may experience near fainting or dizziness when standing too quickly.

Nov. 8, 2018 | Because amyloidosis affects so many different organs, treatment of this disease typically involves a multidisciplinary team of experts in a variety of fields. While there is no cure for the disease, Faith Davies, a hematologist at UAMS’ Myeloma Center, says that specific forms of treatment can help manage its symptoms and limit further production of the amyloid protein. Many of the same chemotherapy medications that treat multiple myeloma are used in amyloidosis to stop the growth of abnormal cells that produce amyloid. An autologous blood stem cell transplant offers an additional treatment option in some cases. This procedure involves collecting the patient’s own stem cells from their blood and storing them for a short time while they have high-dose chemotherapy. The stem cells are then returned to the patient’s body via a vein. This form of treatment is best suited to those patients whose disease isn’t advanced and whose heart isn’t greatly affected.

Nov. 8, 2018 | Managing the symptoms of amyloidosis, which occurs when abnormal proteins called amyloids build up and form deposits in organs, requires supportive treatment. The patient may need a special diet, one that’s low in salt, as well as a diuretic to control the build-up of fluid. Blood thinners and medications to control the patient’s heart rate and blood pressure may also be prescribed. Dialysis may be necessary if the patient’s kidney function is severely compromised. Because a severe case of amyloidosis can be life threatening, it’s important that patients with the disease consult with a specialist who is knowledgeable about the various forms of treatment. Although organ function can improve in 30 to 40 percent of patients after treatment, organ recovery is slow and depends on which organs are affected and how long the damage has been occurring. If treatment begins during the early onset of clinical symptoms, the overall success rate is higher.