Why in News?
The previous leader of Pakistan was afflicted with amyloidosis, a rare condition that impairs the normal operation of tissues and organs.
The former president has been receiving medical care while residing in the UAE for the past eight years. Earlier, according to local media, Musharraf said he wanted to live “the rest of his life” in his own nation.
What is Amyloidosis disease?
When an aberrant protein called amyloid accumulates in your tissues and organs, a condition known as amyloidosis occurs. When it happens, both their form and functionality are impacted. Amyloidosis is a dangerous medical condition that can result in organ failure that is fatal. The heart, brain, kidneys, spleen, and other organs of the body might develop amyloid deposits. Amyloidosis can affect one or more organs in a person.
Amyloidosis can arise as a primary disease or as a complication of another illness. The aetiology of amyloidosis is sometimes unclear, although other times it results from a gene mutation.
Signs and Symptoms of Amyloidosis disease
- 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 (purpura) or bruised-looking areas of skin around the eyes
- Bleeding more than usual after an injury
- Increased tongue size
- Shortness of breath
Different types of amyloidosis disease
- AL amyloidosis affects the kidneys, spleen, heart etc.
- AA amyloidosis is caused by fragments of amyloid A protein Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) can be inherited from a family member (familial amyloidosis).
- Familial ATTR amyloidosis most commonly affects the heart and nerves.
- Wild-type (senile) ATTR amyloidosis is similar to familial ATTR amyloidosis, except the protein that is deposited is the normal, non-mutated transthyretin protein.
Treatment for amyloidosis disease
The therapy is individualised due to the variety of this unusual condition. The doctor may recommend drugs, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, immunotherapy, pacemaker, stem cell transplant, etc. after correctly identifying the ailment with appropriate testing.
Amyloidosis strikes men more frequently than women. As you age, your risk for amyloidosis increases. 15% of people with the cancer type multiple myeloma develop amyloidosis.
