The cause of primary amyloid is unknown. Symptoms 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.
Risk factors have not been identified. The incidence of primary amyloid is 1 out of 10,000 people. There may be signs of heart failure . If specific organ damage is suspected, testing to confirm amyloidosis of that organ may be performed. A biopsy of a tissue or organ is positive for amyloid.