Open AccessThe Amyloidoses: Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Treatment
Author(s) -
Kelty R. Baker,
Lawrence Rice
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
methodist debakey cardiovascular journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1947-6094
pISSN - 1947-6108
DOI - 10.14797/mdcj-8-3-3
Subject(s) - medicine , medline , medical education , subject (documents) , health care , library science , political science , computer science , law , economics , economic growth
Amyloidosis is a rare disorder in which insoluble amyloid proteins are deposited in body organs, causing abnormal protein build-up in tissues and eventually leading to organ dysfunction and death. It affects less than 200,000 people in the United States, classifying it as a rare disease according to the National Institutes of Health. Definitive determination of the underlying protein is critical since prognosis and treatment of amyloidosis can vary widely depending on the responsible protein. The following paper describes the various types and clinical features of amyloidosis and provides an overview of current diagnostic tools and therapies.