Amyloidosis Ireland
Symptoms & diagnosis
Symptoms can vary from person to person, and can also appear at different times, even within the same family.
Important
This page is general information only. If symptoms are new, severe, worsening, or worrying, speak to your GP, consultant or specialist nurse. If you think it may be an emergency, seek urgent medical help.
Why diagnosis can be difficult
- Amyloidosis can affect more than one part of the body.
- Symptoms can overlap with more common conditions.
- Early symptoms are sometimes put down to ageing.
- A pattern of symptoms across the heart, nerves or digestion can be important.
Common symptom areas
People do not usually experience every symptom. It can be more useful to look for patterns across the body — especially nerves, digestion and the heart.
Peripheral nerves
Peripheral nerves carry feeling and movement signals to the hands, feet, arms and legs.
- Tingling, numbness or pins and needles
- Burning, stabbing or increased pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Weakness or difficulty using the hands or feet
- Loss of sensitivity to temperature
- Sleep problems because of night-time pain
Autonomic nerves and digestion
The autonomic nervous system controls automatic body functions such as blood pressure, sweating and digestion.
- Dizziness or fainting when standing
- Diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating bowel symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, indigestion or difficulty swallowing
- Feeling full after eating very little
- Unintentional weight loss
- Urinary retention or recurrent urinary tract infections
- Excessive sweating or sexual dysfunction
Heart symptoms
Amyloid deposits in the heart can lead to a stiff heart muscle, sometimes called restrictive cardiomyopathy.
- Shortness of breath, even after mild exertion
- Fatigue, weakness or dizziness
- Leg swelling, also called oedema
- Palpitations or abnormal heart rhythms, often atrial fibrillation
- Chest pain or angina
- Collapse or fainting, especially after eating or exertion
- Disrupted sleep, nausea or weight loss
Other symptoms can happen
Some people may have symptoms involving the eyes, kidneys or nervous system. These can include blurred or spotty vision, glaucoma, detached retina, kidney dysfunction, headaches, weakness, seizure-like episodes, stroke-like episodes or cognitive changes.
When speaking to a doctor
It can help to write down symptoms before an appointment, especially symptoms across different body systems. Include when they started, whether they are changing, and whether amyloidosis or genetic variants are known in the family.