Amyloidosis - Medtick
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Amyloidosis

What is it?

Amyloidosis is a disease in which an abnormal protein called amyloid accumulates in body tissues and organs.

There are many types of Amyloidosis:

  • Primary amyloidosis – where it is not related to another disease
  • Secondary  amyloidosis- where it is related to another disease
  • ATTR amyloidosis is caused by amyloid deposits from abnormal versions of a blood protein called transthyretin (TTR) and symptoms occur around the age of 30  and onwards.
  • Wild ATTR amyloidosis- affects mainly the heart and hands and symptoms occur around the age of 65  and onwards.

These proteins may build up in one organ or a no. of organs hence symptoms can vary.

For example :

  • Brain – Dementia
  • Heart – Heart failure, an irregular heart rhythm, enlarged heart
  • Kidneys – Kidney failure, protein in the urine
  • Nervous system – Numbness, tingling or weakness from nerve disease
  • Digestive system – Intestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, poor nutrient absorption
  • Blood – Low blood counts, easy bruising or bleeding
  • Pancreas – Diabetes
  • Musculoskeletal system – Joint pain or swelling, weakness
  • Skin – Lumps or purple discoloration

Harvard Health publications

Cause

Syndromes

Symptoms

  • Light headedness?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Balance and dizziness?
  • Blurred vision?
  • Periorbital ecchymosis (sometimes called raccoon eyes)?
  • Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
  • Sharp pain or numbness sensation spread in groin and/or buttocks and/or thighs?
  • Pain and/or numbness and/or tingling sensation in one or both legs and/or foot area?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Short of breath or breathing difficulties?
  • One find passing stools difficult  (can be painful) and constipated?
  • Diarrhoea?
  • Feel full quickly when eating, trapped wind and burping?
  • Sweating?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than than two days (one day if a child)?
  • Blood in faeces which may look red or black like coffee grounds?
  • Unexplained weight loss?
  • Joint pain and stiffness?
  • Inflamed, hot, red, swollen and burning tongue?
  • Difficulty chewing, swallowing talking and/or slurred speech and/or Difficulty in opening the mouth and /or difficult to eat?
  • A new rash that has appeared or existing rash getting worst/discoloration of the skin?
  • Bruise easily /Unusual bruise-like purple rash on the skin and/or in mouth?
  • Difficult to concentrate / difficulty in concentrating/memory problems?

Male:

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:

This condition has been associated with:

This condition may have similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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