Amyloidosis is classified as a rare condition that develops when amyloid protein (a bodily substance) produced in the bone marrow, builds up in damaging deposits around specific organs (i.e., spleen, digestive system, heart, kidneys, liver, and nervous system). Amyloidosis may be hereditary (familial amyloidosis), inflammatory (secondary amyloidosis), immune (AL

amyloidosis), or disease (i.e., kidney dialysis) related in nature. Symptoms differ depending on the exact organ affected, but if left untreated, amyloidosis may lead to organ failure.

The following treatments for amyloidosis won’t cure the disease outright, but are meant to reduce amyloid protein production:

1. Autologous blood stem cell transplant

An early stage treatment for amyloidosis may include autologous blood stem cell transplant, or ASCT. This treatment is used during chemotherapy. It aims to collect and store stem cells from the blood so they are protected during a high-dose round of chemo. After treatment, stem cells are re-infused by vein.

2. Chemotherapy

For immune-related amyloidosis, or AL amyloidosis, many patients undergo chemotherapy. This treatment injects medications (by oral pill or intravenously) in order to impede the growth and collection of amyloid protein.

3. Treatment changes

When amyloidosis (i.e., dialysis-related amyloidosis) is related to an underlying health issue, such as with kidney disease in patients undergoing dialysis, the best course of treatment may be switching up the dialysis mode to a new form (i.e., hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, intestinal dialysis, hemodiafiltration, or hemofiltration) or undergoing full kidney transplant.

4. Liver transplant

For patients with hereditary (or familial) amyloidosis amyloid protein most often strikes the liver, which means the last resort for treatment may be a full liver transplant.

5. Anti-inflammatory drugs

Many patients with secondary (or AA) amyloidosis suffer from an underlying condition (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis). In this case, treating RA symptoms with anti-inflammatory medication (i.e., Celebrex, Dolobid, or Nalfon, etc.) may provide amyloidosis relief.