Definition/patho
What is amyloidosis?
This condition occurs when proteins misfold and clump together into deposits, disrupting the normal function of tissues and organs (Pepys, 2016).
what are the general symptoms of this disease?
fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and weakness. (Judit, 2024)
How can this disease affect the heart?
This organ can become stiff and struggle to pump blood effectively due to amyloid deposits, leading to shortness of breath and swelling (Bustamante & Zaidi, 2023).
what physical signs may you observe during an assessment?
fatigue, weight loss, swelling, bruising around the eyes, or an enlarged tongue. (Judit, 2024)
What are amyloid fibrils?
These insoluble protein structures, characteristic of amyloidosis, build up in tissues and interfere with organ function (Pepys, 2016).
Symptoms related to the heart?
Shortness of breath, edema in the legs, irregular rhythms, signs of heart failure. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2023)
How can if affect the kidneys?
Protein may leak into the urine, causing foamy urine and swelling. Also gets in the way of kidney function by not letting it remove waste. (Bustamante & Zaidi, 2023).
What is autonomic neuropathy?
Amyloidosis can cause this issue, leading to alternating diarrhea and constipation due to nerve involvement in the gastrointestinal tract (Judit, 2024) .
What causes amyloid proteins to misfold?
Genetic mutations, overproduction of abnormal light chains, and chronic inflammation (Stanford Medicine Health Care, 2017).
Symptoms related to the nervous system?
Nerve damage from amyloidosis may cause these sensations in the hands and feet, including tingling, numbness, or burning pain. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2023)
What is the how does it affect the nervous system?
Amyloid deposits in this system can damage nerves like for bowel function which can cause periods of diarrhea and constipation. It can also damage the nerves that control blood pressure which causes people to faint or get dizzy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2023).
What are purpura or petechiae?
In amyloidosis, you might notice these purple spots around the eyes or other signs of easy bruising (Stanford Medicine Health Care, 2017).
Patho of organ damage?
Amyloid deposits accumulate in tissues, causes stiffness, disrupts normal cellular function, leads to organ failure (Pepys, 2016).
What is periorbital purpura?
this rare symptom of amyloidosis involves purplish spots around the eyes due to weakened blood vessels (Stanford Medicine Health Care, 2017).
How does it affect the digestive system?
Amyloid deposits in the digestive system can lead to these two symptoms, one causing difficulty with bowel movements and the other causing frequent, loose stools (Bustamante & Zaidi, 2023).
What is orthostatic hypotension?
When assessing the nervous system, look for this symptom caused by amyloid deposits affecting the autonomic nerves, often leading to dizziness upon standing. (Palma, et al. 2019)
What is restrictive cardiomyopathy?
This specific condition in amyloidosis makes the heart stiff and unable to fill properly, often leading to heart failure (Pepys, 2016).
How does this affect the renal system?
Leads to foamy urine due to protein loss.(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2023)
what is systemic amyloidosis?
In advanced amyloidosis, this condition, caused by amyloid deposits in multiple organs, can result in widespread swelling, severe fatigue, and multi-organ failure (Bustamante & Zaidi, 2023).
Why is a heart murmur significant in amyloidosis?
It may indicate restrictive cardiomyopathy caused by amyloid deposits that stiffens the heart. This restricts normal blood flow leading to abnormal sounds. (Judit, 2024)