Causes, incidence, and risk factors - The cause of primary amyloid is unknown. Symptoms vary widely because they are related to the organs that become affected with the deposits. The deposits infiltrate the organs, causing them to lose resilience and become stiff, resulting in barriers to absorption and diffusion of metabolites.
Secondary amyloidosis can occur from an infection or existing inflammatory disease.
The incidence of primary amyloid is estimated at 8 out of 1,000,000 people. Risk factors have not been identified. There is no known prevention. There may be signs of heart failure. If specific organ damage is suspected, testing to confirm amyloidosis of that organ may be performed.