What is AL amyloidosis?

AL amyloidosis is immunoglobin light chain amyloidosis, a common form that is caused by the production of abnormal antibodies by the bone marrow, notes Mayo Clinic. The antibodies accumulate in the organs because the body lacks the ability to break them down, hence disrupting the normal functioning of the organs.

Typically, AL amyloidosis affects the kidney, heart, liver, skin and nerves, according to Mayo Clinic. It mostly attacks people who are 50 or older, and it is more common in men than in women. The treatment options for AL amyloidosis include chemotherapy, which involves stopping the growth of cells that produce the abnormal antibodies, and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.