15 Common Causes of Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is the official medical term used to describe a group of diseases caused by the buildup of abnormal proteins. Characteristic symptoms of amyloidosis include swollen legs and severe fatigue. Enlarged tongue and bloody diarrhea are other telltale signs that amyloidosis is present.

Of course, while the four symptoms listed above are common in patients with amyloidosis, you don’t need to panic if you experience one of them. Instead, go for a checkup with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and see what the root issue is.

There are quite a few distinct conditions that fall under this category. There are also many things that could cause amyloidosis. Of course, if we were to cover everything in this article then we’d be writing until next decade. That being the case, we’re going to go over the eight most common causes instead.

1. DRA causes

DRA stands for dialysis-related amyloidosis. This form of amyloidosis is prominent in older adults. This is due to the fact that the prominent cause of DRA is dialysis for five years or more. Various studies have shown a direct correlation between long-term dialysis and the development of this type of amyloidosis. In this form of amyloidosis, beta-2 microglobulin deposits start to build up in the blood due to the dialysis.

The buildup happens at a relatively slow pace, but it eventually gets to the point where symptoms will develop. Most doctors believe that the beta-2 microglobulin buildup begins immediately starting from when the dialysis is initiated but remains asymptomatic until the fifth year or beyond.

Some patients have even experienced symptoms of DRA sooner than five years, but it remains the average after analyzing a large number of cases. Patients relying on dialysis should be on the lookout for this form of amyloidosis.