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Primary amyloidosis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Amyloid - primary

Symptoms:

Symptoms depend on the organs affected by the deposits. These organs can include the tongue, intestines, skeletal and smooth muscles, nerves, skin, ligaments, heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys.

Symptoms include:

Abnormal heart rhythm
Enlarged tongue
Fatigue
Numbness of hands and feet
Shortness of breath
Skin changes
Swallowing problems
Swelling in the arms and legs
Weak hand grip
Weight loss

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

Signs and tests:

Your doctor may discover that you have an enlarged liver or spleen.

If organ damage is suspected, your doctor may order tests to confirm amyloidosis of that organ. For example:

Abdominal ultrasound may reveal a swollen liver or spleen.
An abdominal fat pad aspiration, rectal mucosa biopsy, or bone marrow biopsy can help confirm the diagnosis.
A heart evaluation, including an ECG, may reveal arrhythmias, abnormal heart sounds, or signs of congestive heart failure. An echocardiogram shows poor motion of the heart wall, due to a stiff heart muscle.
A carpal tunnel syndrome evaluation may show that hand grips are weak. Nerve conduction velocity shows abnormalities.
Kidney function tests may show signs of kidney failure or too much protein in the urine (nephrotic syndrome).
- BUN level is increased.
- Serum creatinine is increased.
- Urinalysis shows protein, casts, or fat bodies.

This disease may also affect the results of the following tests:

Amyloidosis on the fingers

Amyloidosis on the face

Reviewed last on: 2/20/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Buxbaum JN. The Amyloidoses. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2004.

Gertz MA, Lacy MQ, Dispenzieri A, Hayman SR. Immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (primary amyloidosis). In: Hoffman R, Benz Jr. EJ, Shattil SJ, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philladelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingston; 2008:chap 89.

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