Amyloidosis Information/General Information

Is Amyloidosis an Autoimmune Disease?

Medically reviewed by Fatima Sharif, MBBS, FCPS

Written by Puttatida Chetwong, M.D.

Updated on September 29, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Amyloidosis is not an autoimmune disease, but the two conditions can be connected in important ways, and understanding the difference can make a big difference for people living with either one.
Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy cells, while amyloidosis develops when abnormal proteins build up in tissues and organs. Some autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, can lead to a type of amyloidosis called AA amyloidosis by causing long-term inflammation that triggers the buildup of these harmful proteins.
If you have an autoimmune condition and notice symptoms like swelling in your legs or ankles, foamy urine, or other signs of kidney problems, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor, who can help figure out whether further testing might be helpful.

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Amyloidosis isn’t an autoimmune disease. It develops when abnormal proteins form amyloid deposits that build up in tissues and organs, rather than when the immune system attacks the body.

However, some types of amyloidosis are linked to autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases. They can cause some similar symptoms, and long-term inflammation from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of developing AA amyloidosis.

Here’s a look at how the two conditions differ, where they overlap, and what to watch for if you’re living with either one.

Understanding Autoimmune Disorders

There are many kinds of autoimmune disorders. These conditions develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy cells, tissues, or organs.

The Immune System

The immune system protects the body from infection by recognizing and fighting germs such as viruses and bacteria. It can also “remember” germs, helping the body respond faster if they return.

The immune system is made up of many different cells, tissues, and organs. For example, the skin is a part of the immune system. It keeps bacteria and viruses from getting into the body.

Lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, are immune system cells. Each type of lymphocyte has a different role. They may recognize germs, activate the immune system, or make antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that help the body fight germs.

Lymphocytes are made in the bone marrow, tissue inside certain bones. Many other tissues and organs, including the thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen, also play a role in protecting the body from infection.

Many types of diseases can develop in the immune system. These conditions fall into a few categories:

Primary immune deficiency — People are born with an immune system that doesn’t effectively fight off infection.
Acquired immune deficiency — People develop a disease that makes the immune system weaker.
Allergies — The immune system is overactive.
Autoimmune disorder — The immune system attacks organs or parts of the body, rather than attacking germs.

What Are Autoimmune Disorders?

In people with an autoimmune disorder, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, or organs. It can’t tell the difference between germs and the body’s own tissue. Autoimmune disorders damage the body’s normal tissue and change the way organs work.

Between 23 and 50 million Americans have autoimmune disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health. According to the Office on Women’s Health, women are more likely to develop autoimmune disorders than men.

In addition, risk can vary by race and ethnicity depending on the specific autoimmune disorder. For example, lupus tends to be more severe in African American and Hispanic people, while other autoimmune disorders are more common in different groups.

There are more than 140 identified autoimmune diseases. They include conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, as well as immune-mediated conditions like psoriasis. They can also vary in severity. Some, like vitiligo, primarily cause changes in appearance.

Autoimmune disorders can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the type of autoimmune disease and on the affected location within the body. Many autoimmune disorders lead to similar signs and symptoms, including:

Tiredness
Skin changes or a rash
Fever
Pain or swelling in the joints
Digestive issues
Pallor
Low blood counts, especially anemia (decreased red blood cells)

Many autoimmune disorders cycle between remission, when symptoms improve or disappear, and flares, when symptoms worsen.

Causes of Autoimmune Disorders vs. Amyloidosis

Autoimmune disorders and amyloidosis generally arise in different ways. Also, there are several types of amyloidosis, and each type has its own cause.

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes autoimmune disorders. However, they have a few theories:

The body may start accidentally fighting normal tissue when it tries to attack germs. For example, guttate psoriasis, a type of immune-mediated psoriasis, can develop after an upper respiratory infection, such as strep throat.
Injuries may expose certain parts of the body to the immune system. For example, after an injury to a tendon (a tissue that connects muscles to bones), the immune system may attack the tendon and make joints inflamed.
Certain genes may boost a person’s chances of developing autoimmune disorders, and some of these conditions run in families.
High levels of hormones may increase risk of autoimmune disorders. This may be why women, particularly of childbearing age, develop autoimmune conditions at higher rates than men.

Amyloidosis, however, is a rare disease caused by abnormal proteins. It develops when certain proteins in the body fold abnormally instead of forming their normal shape. These misfolded proteins cluster together, forming amyloid deposits or amyloid fibrils that build up within organs and tissues. Doctors don’t always know why the body produces these proteins.

AL Amyloidosis and Autoimmune Disorders

Amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis involves plasma cells, which are part of the immune system. It develops when abnormal plasma cells, a type of immune cell, produce abnormal light chain proteins.

These proteins misfold and build up as amyloid deposits in tissues and organs.

Even though AL amyloidosis involves immune cells, it isn’t an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In AL amyloidosis, damage comes from the buildup of abnormal proteins.

Other types of amyloidosis, such as hereditary amyloidosis and wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis, are also caused by abnormal protein buildup but involve different proteins.

AL amyloidosis and autoimmune disorders can sometimes cause similar symptoms, which can make them harder to tell apart. Both may cause joint pain or stiffness, carpal tunnel syndrome, dry eyes, and nail changes.

Autoimmune Disorders Can Cause AA Amyloidosis

AA amyloidosis, or secondary amyloidosis, can develop as a result of long-term inflammation from another condition. Chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, and other disorders that cause ongoing inflammation can all lead to AA amyloidosis.

Chronic inflammation stimulates the liver to produce more serum amyloid A (SAA), a protein that rises during the body’s normal response to inflammation. Over time, fragments of this protein can form amyloid deposits in different tissues.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common underlying cause of AA amyloidosis, though how often it’s involved can vary. Other conditions that can cause this form of amyloidosis include:

Other autoimmune disorders like juvenile arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis
Ongoing infections, including tuberculosis or osteomyelitis
Gastrointestinal diseases that cause inflammation, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Some hereditary conditions, like familial Mediterranean fever
Cancers like renal cell carcinoma, Castleman disease, or Hodgkin lymphoma

Only a small number of people with these inflammation-causing diseases go on to develop AA amyloidosis. If you have an autoimmune disorder or a chronic infection, it’s worth knowing the signs of amyloidosis so you can bring them up with your doctor if they appear.

AA amyloidosis may lead to:

Symptoms of kidney disease, such as swelling in the legs and ankles
High cholesterol levels
Digestive symptoms like constipation or diarrhea
A drop in blood pressure when you first stand up, which may make you feel dizzy or faint
Irregular heart rhythms

If you have an autoimmune disorder and notice symptoms like swelling in your legs or ankles, foamy or frothy urine, or other signs of kidney problems, talk to your doctor. These can be signs of AA amyloidosis, and your doctor can help determine whether further testing is needed. Treating the underlying autoimmune disorder can reduce inflammation and slow the progression of AA amyloidosis.

What This Means for You

Amyloidosis and autoimmune diseases are different conditions, but they can share symptoms. Some autoimmune diseases can also increase the risk of AA amyloidosis.

If you have amyloidosis, ask your care team which type you have and whether it may be related to another condition. Understanding the cause can help guide treatment and follow-up.

References

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Comments
Questions

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I have Autoimmune Mixed Connective Tissue/Lupus and have been showing symptoms of Amlyoidosis too. Does anyone know of an experienced doctor in the Olympia Washington area that I can contact?