About our amyloidosis program
Amyloidosis is a group of conditions caused by the buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid. Amyloid deposits can occur in many different places in your body. As a result, amyloidosis often affects multiple organs, including the heart, liver and kidneys, as well as other tissues and nerves.
The amyloidosis programs in Dallas, the Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease at Baylor University Medical Center, and Temple, the Heart and Vascular Institute specialize in caring for those with this complex condition. Dallas and Temple are two of a small number of programs in the nation dedicated to the treatment of amyloidosis.
If you’ve been diagnosed with amyloidosis, our programs offer you the help you need. We provide integrated care through access to multiple specialists who are committed to treating cases like yours.
Amyloidosis symptoms and diagnosis
Because amyloidosis is a rare disease, sometimes it can be difficult to diagnose. Amyloidosis symptoms can vary from person to person, depending on where amyloid deposits occur in the body.
If you have symptoms of amyloidosis, medical tests may include lab work, imaging or biopsy. These tests help your care team not only detect amyloidosis but also examine which organs may be affected.
Some amyloidosis symptoms include:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Enlarged heart
- Enlarged tongue
- Swelling, tingling or numbness in the limbs
- Weight loss
- Digestive issues
- Skin changes, including purple patches around the eyes and bruising
- Shortness of breath
Amyloidosis treatment
Treatment for amyloidosis requires a customized plan of care based on your type of amyloidosis and the extent of your condition. We specialize in caring for primary (AL) amyloidosis and hereditary (ATTR) amyloidosis.
Some of our advanced amyloidosis treatments in Dallas include:
- Medication
- Chemotherapy
- Blood stem cell transplant
- Liver transplant
- Kidney transplant
- Clinical trials
Amyloidosis program team
When it comes to treatment for amyloidosis, you want a team with the experience and knowledge needed to care for every aspect of your condition. Because amyloidosis affects your body in many different ways, our amyloidosis programs bring together multiple specialists to care for you.
Your amyloidosis treatment team may include physicians on the medical staff specializing in:
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Neurology
- Nuclear imaging
- Pathology
- Oncology
- Blood and marrow transplant
Together, our team at the amyloidosis program will tailor a treatment plan based on your unique needs.