Amyloidosis is a condition that occurs when a protein called amyloid builds up in organs. The build up can make the organs such as heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and digestive tract not work properly. The types of amyloidosis that occur with other diseases may improve with treatment of the other diseases. However, other types may lead to life-threatening organ failure. Treatments may include chemotherapy with strong drugs used to treat cancer.  Some people may benefit from organ or stem cell transplants.

Individuals may not experience symptoms of amyloidosis until later in the course of the disease. Also, the symptoms may vary, depending on which organs are affected. The common symptoms include severe fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet, swelling of the ankles and legs, diarrhea, possibly with blood, or constipation, an enlarged tongue, which sometimes looks rippled around its edge, and skin changes, such as thickening or easy bruising, and purplish patches around the eyes.

There are various different types of amyloidosis some that are hereditary and others caused by outside factors, such as inflammatory diseases or long-term dialysis. Many types affect multiple organs. Others affect only one part of the body. Immunoglobulin light chain is the most common type of amyloidosis in developed countries. It usually affects the heart, kidneys, liver and nerves. AA type is another type that is usually triggered by an inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Hereditary type commonly happens when a protein made by your liver is abnormal. Wild-type amyloidosis occurs when the TTR protein made by the liver is normal but produces amyloid for unknown reasons. Wild-type amyloidosis tends to affect men over age 70 and often targets the heart. It can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Localized amyloidosis often has a better prognosis than the varieties that affect multiple organ systems.  APA