Ailments & Conditions

Amyloidosis – Symptoms & Causes

Amyloidosis is a rare condition in which amyloid, a particular type of protein, accumulates in the body. This leads to several damages in your organs instead of supporting important functions as usual proteins. Some commonly affected areas include the liver, kidneys, and heart. Fortunately, there are many treatment options if you detect and diagnose the condition early. Keep reading this post to learn more about the common symptoms and causes of amyloidosis.

4 Causes of Amyloidosis

Abnormality in Plasma Cells

The main cause of amyloidosis is an abnormality in several cells in the bone marrow, which are known as plasma cells. Those components generate abnormal types of light chain proteins that can enter your bloodstream and cause amyloid to build up. In healthy people, light chain proteins are a part of the natural antibody proteins. They are helpful in protecting their bodies from infections and illnesses. However, abnormal plasma cells would make them clump together into amyloid fibrils or thread-like strings. The body cannot eliminate them easily and cause deposits over time in different organs and tissues. [1]