what is amyloid

Amyloid is a protein that can build up in organs and tissues, causing a rare disease called amyloidosis. Amyloidosis occurs when amyloid fibrils, which are protein polymers comprising identical monomer units, accumulate in organs and tissues, altering their normal function. There are many different types of amyloidosis, some of which are hereditary, while others are caused by outside factors such as inflammatory diseases or long-term dialysis. Amyloidosis can affect multiple organs or only one part of the body. The organs that may be affected include the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system, and digestive tract. Some types of amyloidosis may lead to life-threatening organ failure. Symptoms of amyloidosis can vary depending on the type and severity of the disease, but they may include feeling very weak or tired, losing weight without trying, swelling in the belly, legs, ankles, or feet, numbness, pain or tingling in hands or feet, skin that bruises easily, purple spots or bruised-looking areas of skin around the eyes, bleeding more than usual after an injury, and shortness of breath. Treatments for amyloidosis may include chemotherapy with strong drugs used to treat cancer, medications that can reduce amyloid production and control symptoms, and organ or stem cell transplants.