What Is AL Primary Amyloidosis?
Using this staining method from a heart biopsy sample, amyloid fibrils stain light pink. Note how the amyloid deposits are seen everywhere and encircle each heart cell.
AL amyloidosis is the most commonly diagnosed form of amyloidosis. In this disorder, the body abnormally produces a piece of an antibody called a "light chain" which accumulates in amyloid fibrils in different organs.
The cells, which produce the defective antibody light chains, are all identical (also known as 'clonal'), and for this reason, the disease is sometimes considered to be cancerous.
Indeed, AL amyloidosis is closely related to a type of bone marrow cancer called "myeloma" – another disease in which identical clones of antibody-producing cells proliferate.
Using this staining method from a heart biopsy sample, amyloid fibrils stain blue. Note how the amyloid deposits are seen everywhere and encircle each heart cell.
The main difference between myeloma and AL amyloidosis is that in myeloma the primary injury to the body is from the proliferation of the abnormal cells, whereas in amyloidosis the primary injury to the body is from the accumulation of the light chains into amyloid deposits.
Not surprisingly, there can be overlap between the two diseases, and patients are diagnosed with both AL amyloidosis and myeloma in approximately 10 percent of cases.
Injury from amyloid deposits can occur in any organ which amyloid infiltrates, and occurs as a consequence of disruption of the normal tissue architecture and by direct tissue injury.
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AL Primary Amyloidosis
Primary amyloidosis is associated with blood cancer; the bone marrow overproduces a protein which accumulates in tissues and organs, affecting the entire body.
AL Primary Amyloidosis
primary amyloidosis
primary systemic amyloidosis