What is the primary treatment approach for amyloidosis?

The primary treatment approach for amyloidosis focuses on supportive care due to the complexity and variability of the disease. Amyloidosis is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid protein in tissues and organs, which can lead to significant morbidity and complications. The management often revolves around alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life for patients, rather than offering a definitive cure.

Supportive care may include interventions to manage heart failure symptoms in patients with cardiac involvement, renal support measures such as dialysis for those with kidney impairment, and management of neuropathy symptoms if peripheral nerves are affected. This approach is essential as it addresses the specific challenges each patient may face based on the extent of organ involvement and the overall impact on their health.

While some treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy can be used in certain types of amyloidosis, particularly in AL amyloidosis (light chain amyloidosis) where there is a plasma cell dyscrasia, these are not universally applicable or curative. Curative surgeries are not generally feasible due to the systemic nature of the disease, and thus supportive care remains the foundation of management strategies in clinical practice.