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What is Amyloidosis? |
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Symptoms
Although proteins are essentially the building blocks of the body, the cells sometimes create abnormal proteins which serve as precipitates in bodily tissues, resulting in deposits that can be the cause of disease. These deposits are referred to as amyloids, and the debilitation which they cause is known as amyloidosis. The condition is very difficult to detect due to the wide range of symptoms which are associated with it, and these vary depending on which organ is afflicted as well. Some patients don’t even experience any symptoms indicative of amyloidosis; otherwise, conditions as varied as swollenness of the extremities, feebleness, diarrhea, an enlarged tongue, or weight changes may be observed.
Causes
Amyloidosis is commonly identified as any of three forms. Primary amyloidosis is the most common, and can affect the heart, kidneys, and the intestines. Although the cause of this condition is yet unknown, the affliction starts at the patient’s bone marrow, when the cells create antibodies which resist from being broken down; these eventually cause a buildup in the bloodstream, and then deposited in the tissues as amyloids that interfere with the body’s normal functioning. Secondary amyloidosis occurs in accordance with an infection or an inflammatory disease, such as TB, arthritis, or an infection of bone mass called osteomyelitis. The condition usually afflicts internal organs like the spleen, the liver, and the kidneys, although other bodily organs may also be affected. Hereditary amyloidosis is genetic, and is commonly evident on the nerves the heart, or the kidneys.
Diagnosis
Preliminary diagnostics may involve blood or urine tests as part of an extensive physical exam which intends to rule out other potential afflictions; although these can usually identify abnormal proteins indicative of amyloidosis, a tissue biopsy is the only method which either confirms or rejects the possibility for the condition. During a biopsy, a doctor employs a surgical needle to collect a tissue sample; if the patient is suspected to bear the condition on multiple areas of the body rather on a single part (systemic amyloidosis), the biopsy is conducted on abdominal fat mass, the rectum, or the sample is taken from the bone marrow. This is then scrutinized under a microscope in attempt to detect the presence of amyloids. Since biopsies may also be conducted on sensitive organs such as the kidneys or the liver, anesthetics may be administered prior to the procedure.
Treatment Info
There is no actual cure for amyloidosis, but there are procedures which regulate the symptoms and minimize the continuous production of amyloids. Treatment for primary amyloidosis may involve chemotherapy, or a procedure called peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, wherein immature (stem) blood cells are transfused into the bloodstream as a replacement for diseased marrow; the stem cells may either come from the patient or from a donor. Secondary amyloidosis is treated through therapies which aim to deal with the underlying condition first, such as the intake of anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis. Hereditary amyloidosis can be treated through liver transplantation, since the protein responsible for the affliction is produced in the said organ. Supplemental treatment may also be necessary in order to prevent complications resulting from amyloidosis, such as a low-salt diet, diuretics, or medications for pain management.
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