At the (AHN) Amyloidosis Program, a team of doctors from various specialties collaborate to offer individualized treatment plans. These patient-centered therapies slow down the disease to help you feel better, for longer.
Types of Amyloidosis include:
Common Amyloidosis symptoms:
These non-specific symptoms may not always be a sign of Amyloidosis, because they are also signs for other diseases. Having these symptoms determines the need for further testing.
In order to confirm an Amyloidosis diagnosis, AHN offers the following tests:
Treatment depends on the type of Amyloidosis, as well as the parts of the body that have been affected. At AHN, we focus on stopping production of defective proteins, removing deposits, and repairing the problems in the organs.
Light Chain Amyloidosis happens when too many antibody fragments called “light chains” are overproduced by the bone marrow. This process is cancer-like, so we use chemotherapy to destroy those light-chain producing “factories.” Sometimes, a bone marrow transplant may need to be considered.
Transthyretin Amyloidosis occurs when defective transporter proteins called Transthyretin (TTR) are produced. These proteins can by defective due to mutation at birth, or as a result of aging. New medicines, now under review, prevent the defective TTR proteins from being deposited. Other therapies in development will aim to prevent the liver from making the defective proteins all together.
No matter the type of Amyloidosis, small studies suggest that a combination of medications, including: antibiotics, green tea extract, and ursodeoxycholic acid have been known to help the body remove clumps of defective proteins, from various organs, with few side effects. They are often used along with other treatments.
For individuals with Transthyretin Amyloidosis, genetic testing and counseling can help families obtain a diagnosis, and plan for the future. Importantly, just having the mutation does not mean that you will develop the disease, but it does mean that you could pass along that mutation to the next generation
Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 or request an appointment to learn more about AHN cardiovascular services.
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