Amyloidosis is a very rare condition that is diagnosed in 20,000 persons each year. The description of the condition is amyloid proteins build up in mass in the heart, liver and/or kidneys preventing the proper function of those organs. The signs and symptoms of amyloidosis are plentiful as it can affect so many organs. Symptoms of amyloidosis depend on type, however, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, swelling in the legs, shortness of breath.

As well as irregular heartbeat, carpal tunnel syndrome, pain or numbness in the lower back and legs, glaucoma and eye issues, as well as peripheral neuropathy are common among all four known types of amyloidosis:

1. AL amyloidosis
This type of amyloidosis is also known as primary amyloidosis. It affects the heart, kidneys, liver and the nerves. The problem develops when your bone marrow starts to produce abnormal antibodies. These antibodies cannot be broken down causing them to be deposited as amyloid in your tissues. When that happens, your tissues can no longer function as normal.

2. AA amyloidosis
AA amyloidosis is also known as secondary amyloidosis. This condition often affects the kidneys, but occasionally will affect the digestive tract, heart and liver. It is usually masked by the traits of inflammatory disease or a chronic infection such as inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis.

3. Hereditary amyloidosis
This disorder is also known as familial amyloidosis. It is inherited amyloidosis. This kind of amyloidosis is due to an abnormal gene present at birth. The abnormal amyloid gene’s type and location determine the complication. This factor also indicates the age when symptoms appear and the progression of the disorder.

4. Dialysis-related amyloidosis
When a patient undergoes dialysis for years, he or she can develop amyloidosis. This occurs when the proteins in the blood are deposited in the tendons and joints. These deposits cause stiffness and pain in the tendons and joints. This another time that carpal tunnel syndrome appears.

5. Additional symptoms
Other symptoms of amyloidosis may include:

• Blue to purple skin around the eyes
• Enlarged tongue
• Difficulty swallowing
• Diarrhea that can occasionally be bloody
• Weight Loss
• Skin that easily bruises
• Numbness and/or pain in the feet and hands

6. Risk factors for amyloidosis
Seventy percent of those with amyloidosis develop it after age 60 to 70 and their gender is male. Your risk of developing amyloidosis increases if you already suffer from a chronic infection or an inflammatory disease. With hereditary amyloidosis, people of African descent have a higher risk of carrying the gene that negatively affects the heart. Because kidney dialysis doesn’t always remove large proteins from the blood, proteins can build up in the blood and be deposited in tissue. Modern dialysis machines are more capable of removing large proteins than the older machines were.

7. Amyloidosis treatments
Amyloidosis is treated with chemotherapy, autologous blood stem cell transplant, if the amyloidosis is AL amyloidosis. A liver transplant can treat hereditary amyloidosis, anti-inflammatory medications treat AA amyloidosis as it directly attacks the rheumatoid arthritis. With dialysis-related amyloidosis changing the mode of dialysis can help tremendously.