Common Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Amyloidosis

Kidney Damage

An individual with kidney damage being treated with long-term dialysis is at a higher risk of developing amyloidosis than someone who is not affected by kidney damage. The kidneys are responsible for the function of filtering toxins, wastes, and fluids from the blood so they can exit the body through the urine. Each healthy kidney filters between 120 and 150 quarts of blood every day. Primary amyloidosis of the kidneys develops when amyloid deposits cause damage to the small filters in the kidney tissues. Dialysis-related amyloidosis develops when beta-2 macroglobulin or a certain type of protein accumulates in the blood because the dialysis machine does not have the capacity to filter and remove it the same way healthy kidneys can. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis can both increase a patient's risk of developing dialysis-related amyloidosis. This discrepancy in the functionality of dialysis and the human kidney can cause a patient to develop hyperlipidemia, albuminuria, edema, and hypoalbuminemia in addition to amyloidosis.

Reveal complications linked to amyloidosis next.