Amyloidosis Overview

First off, I want to say that amyloidosis is a very complicated condition and consists of a family of diseases, each with its own ranges of severity, propogration, treatment and risks. Even I don't understand all of the details of my kind (primary amyloidosis). I will describe in very simplified terms about what I have, and I am sure that what a say probably won't be very accurate. So, if you are interested in more consise information about this disease I recommend you explore some of the links on my list that talk about the disease in more accurate detail.

Now that's out of the way, I'll give you a Cliff Notes version:

Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a protein disposition disease. It is a progressive disease that affects the operation various organs and body systems, which over time will kill the patient without treatment.

I cannot explain exactly how amyloids come to ruining your body without using multi-syllable medical terminology that would put you to sleep, so let's say that for some reason, the plasma cells in your body do not make an imbalanced amount of antibody 'chains'. They are normally created and processed by the body to make healthy proteins.

Now, when there are too many of a certain 'chain', something bad happens. The protein folds into what's called an amyloid. These amyloids are then released from the bone marrow into the bloodsteam and get deposited in various organs.

Have you ever accidently sat in a wad of chewing gum? If you have, you know how difficult it is to get it out of your clothes. This is a good analogy for amyloids; they are like 'chewing gum' in that they get stuck in various organs and cause the organ to stop functioning correctly.

There are many different types of diseases involving amyloids:

1) Primary Amyloidosis (AL): Involves the whole body system; produced in the bone marrow
2) Familial Amyloidsis: Genetic; produced in the liver
3) Secondary Amylodis (AA): Amyloid creation as a result of another condition, such as Rheumutoid Arthritis and other chronic diseases (Alzheimer's). Production is in the location of the disease.

I have the first one: Primary Amyloidosis (AL)

Some facts:

• Amyloidosis is very rare (8 cases per million people)


• Scientists do not know how or why the body creates amyloids.


• Amyloidosis has been discovered in people all over the world, in various states of health.


• Amyloidosis is usually a mid-to late-age disease, were most cases are found in people over 40.


• There is no cure for amyloidosis, however, there are multiple treatments in studies which show promise for remission of the disease.