Key Information
The amyloidoses (the plural word for amyloidosis) are rare diseases first described over 150 years ago. There are different types of amyloidosis that are all unified by a common pathological process. Amyloid diseases all cause deposits of amyloid proteins in the body's organs and tissue, and the amyloidoses are classified by the protein that deposits as amyloid. This accumulation may happen systemically (throughout the body) or locally (in one tissue or organ).
Each year approximately 3000-5000 new cases of light chain (AL) amyloidosis are diagnosed in the United States, with many more cases of age-related and inherited transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) also diagnosed. Amyloidosis is generally a disease of middle-aged people and older, although the disease has been seen in individuals in their thirties.
Other diseases can increase the risk of amyloidosis, and family history of the disease may indicate a hereditary version. 10 to 15% of people with multiple myeloma develop amyloidosis. Long-term kidney dialysis may increase the risk of dialysis-associated amyloidosis.