Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease

Amyloidosis is a chronic metabolic disorder which is characterized by the deposition of amyloid proteins in the tissues and organs. It can affect nearly every part of the body including the kidneys, heart, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, skin, muscles, etc.

Kidney is one the most frequently affected part of amyloidosis. AL, AA and many other hereditary amyloidoses can deposit in the kidneys and cause kidney damages or even lead to kidney failure if left untreated. Such renal damages is called amyloidosis-induced kidney disease or amyloidosis nephropathy.

Soluble proteins will aggravate and deposit extracellularly in the kidneys as insoluble fibrils and this will cause renal damages and progressive loss of kidney functions.

On the other hand, kidney disease can also cause amyloidosis. Dialysis-related amyloidosis is very common among end stage kidney disease patients. Under normal circumstances, the kidneys can maintain the metabolic orders of proteins, fats and sugar and help filter excessive proteins from the blood. When kidney functions are severely affected, a protein called beta-2-microglobulin will build up in the blood and form larger molecules. When they deposit in surrounding tissues or organs, damages can be caused and often renal functions can be worsened for dialysis patients.

Whether amyloidosis is the underlying cause or outcome of kidney disease, early and effective treatment should be sought to remove these abnormal protein deposition in the kidneys and other parts so as to reduce further renal damages and protect residual kidney functions.

The first step is to find out the cause of amyloidosis protein accumulation and deposition so as to prevent the formation of amyloidosis from the very root. Of cause in some cases the underlying cause can not be dealt with. Even though, early and proper treatment can help a lot to ease symptoms, reduce potential renal damages and slow down illness progression. Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy has been found to be effective at eliminating blood clots, immune complex deposition, protein deposition and extracellular matrix from the kidneys so as to help greatly relieve the patient’s symptoms and discomforts. What is more important, active ingredients in Chinese medicines can help repair damaged renal tissues and improve renal functions. When renal functions are improved, the frequency of dialysis can be gradually reduced so that amyloidosis that is induced by dialysis can be much reduced.