The key difference between amyloidosis and multiple myeloma is that amyloidosis is due to abnormal plasma cells that create many light chain proteins, causing amyloid deposits, while multiple myeloma is due to cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow.
The plasma cells of the bone marrow are an important part of the immune system. Amyloidosis and multiple myeloma are two rare and serious conditions that originate from the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Furthermore, primary amyloidosis or AL (light chain) is the most common form of amyloidosis that is closely related to multiple myeloma.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Amyloidosis
3. What is Multiple Myeloma
4. Similarities – Amyloidosis and Multiple Myeloma
5. Amyloidosis vs Multiple Myeloma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Amyloidosis vs Multiple Myeloma
What is Amyloidosis?
Amyloidosis is a serious and rare condition that occurs when an abnormal protein known as amyloid accumulates in the organs and interferes with their normal function. Amyloid is not normally found in the body. However, it can be formed from several different types of proteins. Amyloids can affect organs, including the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system, and digestive tract. The signs and symptoms of amyloidosis may include swelling of the ankles and legs, severe fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath with minimal exertion, inability to lie flat in the bed, numbness, tingling or pain in hands or feet, diarrhoea, unintentional weight loss, enlarged tongue, skin changes (thickening of the skin or easy bruising), irregular heartbeat, and difficulty swallowing. There are wide varieties of amyloidosis. Some varieties are hereditary, while others are caused by outside factors such as inflammatory diseases or long-term dialysis.
Figure 01: Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis can be diagnosed through physical examination, laboratory tests (blood and urine tests), tissue biopsy, and imaging tests such as echocardiogram, MRI, and nuclear imaging. Furthermore, treatments for amyloidosis may include chemotherapy, heart medications, targeted therapies (patisirian and inotersen), and surgical procedures like autologous blood stem cell transplant, dialysis, and organ transplant.
What is Multiple Myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a rare and serious condition due to a cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. The changes or mutations in a person’s genetic material can trigger plasma cells to become malignant and create multiple myeloma. Moreover, parts of chromosome number 17 are missing in myeloma cells, which makes myeloma more aggressive. The signs and symptoms of myeloma may include bone pain, bone weakness and fractures, spinal cord compression, nerve damage, anemia, low white blood cells, low platelet counts, and high levels of calcium in the blood.
Figure 02: Multiple Myeloma
The tests and procedures used to treat multiple myeloma include blood tests, urine tests, examination of the bone marrow, and imaging tests (X-ray, MRI, CT scan, and positron emission tomography (PET). Furthermore, the standard treatment options for multiple myeloma are targeted therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, bone marrow transplant, and radiation therapy (high-powered energy beam of sources such as X-ray).
What are the Similarities Between Amyloidosis and Multiple Myeloma?
- Amyloidosis and multiple myeloma are two rare and serious conditions originating from the plasma cells in the bone marrow.
- Primary amyloidosis is closely related to multiple myeloma.
- Both diseases have a hereditary nature.
- They are common among the male sex and black sex.
- Both diseases can be diagnosed through blood tests and imaging tests.
- They can be treated through specific medicines and surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Amyloidosis and Multiple Myeloma?
Amyloidosis is a rare and serious condition due to abnormal plasma cells creating many light chain proteins that can form amyloid deposits, while multiple myeloma is a rare and serious condition that is due to a cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow. Thus, this is the key difference between amyloidosis and multiple myeloma. Furthermore, the risk factors for amyloidosis include age, male sex, other chronic and inflammatory diseases, family history, kidney dialysis, and race. On the other hand, risk factors for multiple myeloma include increasing age, male sex, black sex, family history, and personal history of a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).
The below infographic presents the differences between amyloidosis and multiple myeloma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Amyloidosis vs Multiple Myeloma
Plasma cells are a type of immune cells that make large amounts of specific antibodies. Amyloidosis and multiple myeloma are two rare and serious conditions that originate from plasma cells in the bone marrow. Amyloidosis is a rare and serious condition that is due to abnormal plasma cells that create many light chain proteins that can form amyloid deposits, while multiple myeloma is a rare and serious condition that is due to a cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow. So, this summarizes the difference between amyloidosis and multiple myeloma
Reference:
1. “Amyloidosis.” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. “Multiple Myeloma Causes & Risk Factors: Age, Gender, Race, and More.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Amyloidosis cutis dyschromica” By Wenlin Yang, Yangyang Lin, Jian Yang, Wensheng Lin – Science Open (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Multiple Myeloma” By www.scientificanimations.com – (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia