What's the difference between AL amyloidosis and ATTR-CM when symptoms seem similar?
Great question, especially since you've been successfully treated for AL amyloidosis but are noticing symptoms that resemble ATTR-CM.
The key difference lies in what causes each type:
AL Amyloidosis
- Caused by abnormal plasma cells in Show Full Answer
What's the difference between AL amyloidosis and ATTR-CM when symptoms seem similar?
Great question, especially since you've been successfully treated for AL amyloidosis but are noticing symptoms that resemble ATTR-CM.
The key difference lies in what causes each type:
AL Amyloidosis:
- Caused by abnormal plasma cells in your bone marrow producing too many light chain proteins
- These excess proteins build up in organs and cause damage
- Treatment targets killing those abnormal plasma cells (which is what your Dara-CyBorD and Daratumumab did)
ATTR-CM:
- Caused by a different protein called transthyretin (TTR) that's made in the liver
- This protein misfolds and deposits specifically in the heart
- Can be hereditary (genetic mutation) or wild-type (no mutation, typically in older adults)
- Treatment focuses on stabilizing the TTR protein to prevent further deposits
Both types can affect the heart and cause similar symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and leg swelling. However, they require completely different treatments because they involve different proteins and different underlying causes.
If you're experiencing cardiac symptoms after successful AL treatment, it's important to discuss this with your doctor. They may want to do additional testing to determine if there's ATTR involvement or if symptoms are related to existing heart damage from AL amyloidosis.
April 15
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