Amyloidosis

What is Amyloidosis?

Amyloidosis is a group of different diseases that occur when an abnormal protein called amyloid is produced in the body. It can affect different parts of the body including the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system, and digestive tract.

What Are the Symptoms of Amyloidosis?

Symptom will vary based on the type of amyloidosis, but may include:

Weight loss
Weakness
Tiredness
Swelling or numbness in hands or feet
Bruising easily
Excessive bleeding after injury
Shortness of breath
Swelling of the tongue
Purpling around the eyes

UR Medicine's Treatments for Amyloidosis

We have established a team of physicians dedicated to caring for patients with all forms of amyloidosis. This team has expertise in a variety of disciplines to meet the unique needs of each patient.

How is Amyloidosis Diagnosed?

Your provider may order the following tests:

Urine test
Blood test
Echocardiogram
Stress tests
Ultrasound
Genetic testing
Biopsy

How is Amyloidosis Treated?

Treatment will vary, but may include:

Chemotherapy
Bone marrow transplant
Medications
Clinical trials

What Sets Us Apart?

Our groundbreaking approaches at UR Medicine Cardiac Care are giving patients greater hope than ever before.

We’re the only center in upstate New York to perform heart transplants, with outcomes comparable to the best heart transplant centers in the nation. We’re one of the five largest VAD programs in the nation. Launched in 2001, our program has participated in nearly every major clinical study involving ventricular assist devices.

We’re also one of the world's leading research centers on implantable defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy. Our program is the first in the region to receive Advanced Certification from the Joint Commission for Heart Failure and for Ventricular Assist Devices.

And UR Medicine Cardiac Care is the area's only center to receive a Gold Plus Performance Award from the American Heart Association, meeting the highest standards for treating heart failure, coronary artery disease, and stroke.