Amyloidosis

Outlook

Before effective treatments for AL amyloidosis were discovered, the outlook for the condition was poor, with many people only living for a few months.

With modern treatments, the outlook varies depending on the extent of the amyloid deposits, your age and general health, and how well you respond to treatment.

Overall, many people with AL amyloidosis now survive for several years after they are diagnosed with the condition and increasing numbers of people are living for a decade or more.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for amyloidosis

Introduction

Amyloidosis is a group of rare but serious conditions caused by deposits of abnormal protein, called amyloid, in tissues and organs throughout the body.

Signs and symptoms of AL amyloidosis

AL amyloidosis can affect any organ, and the symptoms depend on which organs are affected. Most oftenamyloid is deposited in the kidneys and may cause kidney failure. Symptoms of kidney failure can i

AL amyloidosis occurs when an abnormality in the plasma cells found in bone marrow (the spongy tissue at the centre of some bones) results in the excessive production of proteins called 'light chains'

DiagnosingAL amyloidosis

Diagnosis of AL amyloidosis can be challenging, since the symptoms are often very general. The diagnosis can be confirmed by removing a biopsy (small tissue sample) from the affected part of the bod

TreatingAL amyloidosis

There are currently no treatments available that can directly remove the amyloid deposits associated with AL amyloidosis. Treatment aims to prevent the further production of abnormal light chains whil

Outlook

Before effective treatments for AL amyloidosis were discovered, the outlook for the condition was poor, with many people only living for a few months. With modern treatments, the outlook varies depen

Information about you

If you have amyloidosis, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scientists look for bett

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