Have you been suffering from a joint disorder or inflammatory bowel condition for a long time? Have you noticed new symptoms like swollen legs or foamy urine? This could be a new condition related to your old condition. Today we are talking about one such rare but important condition to be aware of. It is AA Amyloidosis.
What is AA Amyloidosis?
Simply put, this is a rare disease that affects proteins in our body. It is one of the types of amyloidosis, a large group of diseases.
Think of the proteins in our bodies as neatly folded clothes. They have a specific shape and a specific function. But in this disease, the 3D structure of some proteins is disrupted, and they become tangled and tangled like balls of thread. It's like a piece of clothing that has been crumpled into a mess and thrown aside. These disordered protein clumps, which we call amyloid deposits , start to accumulate in our organs, especially in places like the kidneys and liver.
This is also called 'secondary amyloidosis'. The reason for this is that it is not a disease that occurs on its own. It occurs as a serious side effect or complication of another long-term inflammatory disease in the body. When there is inflammation in our body for a long time, the level of a protein called 'serum A protein' increases in the blood. This high level is what primarily causes AA amyloidosis.
How does this condition affect my body?
AA amyloidosis can damage several important organs in your body.
- Kidneys: The kidneys are the most and most commonly damaged by this disease.
- Liver
- Spleen
- Stomach and intestines
- Heart: The heart is very rarely affected.
In addition to damaging these organs, this condition can also cause increased protein in your urine and changes in blood cholesterol levels.
This disease can be fatal if left untreated. The best part is that when the underlying disease that causes it is treated, the AA amyloidosis condition can also be controlled.
What causes AA amyloidosis?
As we discussed earlier, the main reason for this is long-term, chronic inflammation in the body. In response to this inflammation, our liver produces a lot of a special protein called 'serum A protein'. Normally, this protein is used up and eliminated. However, when there is continued inflammation, these proteins build up too much, change their shape, and, as mentioned earlier, start to clump together and deposit in the organs.
There are several medical conditions that can cause long-term inflammation in this way.
| Disease category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Chronic Infections | Long-term bacterial infections such as non-healing wounds and tuberculosis. |
| Rheumatic Diseases | Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis. |
| Inflammatory Bowel Diseases | Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis. |
| Some types of cancer | Some types of blood-related cancers. |
| Inherited Conditions | Hereditary conditions that cause occasional fever, such as Familial Mediterranean Fever. |
What are the symptoms of this disease?
The symptoms of this disease often depend on the organ affected. Since the kidneys are most commonly affected, symptoms related to that are most common.
| Symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Swelling of the legs or ankles | The following can occur as a result of fluid accumulation in the body due to impaired kidney function. |
| Foamy or frothy pee | The urine may foam like soapy water as the kidneys release protein. This is a very important symptom . |
| Less urine output than normal | It can be a symptom of chronic kidney disease. |
| Chronic diarrhea | Amyloid deposits in the intestines can interfere with food absorption. |
| Enlarged liver or kidneys | This can be detected during a medical examination. |
| Low blood pressure | Dizziness may occur, especially when standing up. |
| Nausea and vomiting | This can happen when the digestive system is affected. |
How does a doctor find this?
If your doctor suspects this disease based on your symptoms, the main way to confirm it is to perform a biopsy. This means taking a small piece of tissue and examining it under a microscope.
Abdominal fat pad biopsy
This is a very simple test. A very small piece of the fat layer under the skin of your abdomen is taken and examined. In most cases, this test can diagnose the disease.
Organ biopsy
Sometimes, it is necessary to take a small piece of tissue from the organ suspected of being damaged (for example, a kidney) and test it.
Along with these tests, doctors also check for other types of amyloidosis, such as AL amyloidosis, which has similar symptoms but is slightly more severe.
What are the treatments for this?
The most important thing in this is to treat the underlying disease that caused AA amyloidosis, rather than treating it directly.
Imagine that you have rheumatoid arthritis. Then the doctors will prescribe medication to control your rheumatoid arthritis as best they can. Then the inflammation in the body will decrease. When the inflammation decreases, the production of that troublesome 'serum A protein' will also decrease. Then the new amyloid deposits will stop, and the symptoms will gradually begin to decrease.
That means that treating the underlying disease is the main treatment for AA amyloidosis.
In addition, research is underway on new drugs that can remove amyloid deposits that have already formed.
Can this disease be completely cured?
Yes, this disease can be controlled and reversed. But it depends entirely on how well the underlying inflammatory disease that caused it is controlled.
The most important thing is to diagnose the disease as soon as possible and start treating the underlying cause. This will help control the damage to the organs and prevent further damage.
How do I take care of myself?
If you have AA amyloidosis, the best thing you can do is work with your doctor to get the underlying condition treated.
- Ask your doctor carefully to find out how your original illness affected this, what treatment is being given for it, and how to follow that treatment exactly.
- If you develop new symptoms (such as swollen legs, foamy urine) in addition to your old illness, don't ignore it as something minor. Inform your doctor about it immediately.
AA amyloidosis is a rare but serious complication of a common disease. Fortunately, it can be controlled by treating the underlying disease. So, be aware of any changes in your body. Talk to your doctor about any new symptoms. He or she will be able to give you the guidance you need.
Take-Home Message
- AA Amyloidosis is not a disease that occurs on its own. It is a complication of another chronic inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- This is caused by proteins in the body clumping together irregularly and depositing mainly in organs such as the kidneys.
- If you have a chronic illness, don't ignore symptoms like swollen legs and excessive foaminess in your urine.
- The main treatment for this is to control the underlying disease that caused it .
- Early detection and continued treatment of the underlying condition can lead to very good outcomes. Talk to your doctor about any new symptoms.
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