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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:

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

  • 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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