Amyloidosis Lichen - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies
What is Amyloidosis Lichen ?
Amyloidosis Lichen is the most common kind of primary localised cutaneous amyloidosis. It is a rare case and if occurs sometimes it can be fatal when substances called amyloid proteins produced in the body organs. In Amyloidosis Lichen, the source of amyloid is keratin from necrotic keratinocytes. The amyloid in Amyloidosis Lichen reacts with antikeratin antibodies and contains sulfhydryl groups, testing its identity as altered keratin. Amyloid deposition in LA is secondary to intense scratching causing epidermal damage.It can lead to the production of itchy rash on the shins, thighs, feet, and forearms, multiple scaly, red/brown raised spots which may change into thickened plaques. Amyloidosis lichen affect can be seen in more than 90% of people with Type II diabetes mellitus, people with certain cancers of the thyroid or other tumors of the endocrine system, and about 80% of people over age 80. It is more common in males than in females.
Other name is Lichen Amyloidosis (LA).
Causes of Amyloidosis Lichen
- There is no particular cause.
- It is related to unusual production of immunoglobulins by a type of immune cell called plasma cells.
- A chronic infectious or inflammatory disease can lead to Amyloidosis Lichen.
- Long term kidney dialysis say more than five years may become a serious cause.
What are the symptoms of Amyloidosis Lichen ?
- Weakness in the body .
- Serious symptom can be seen when tongue becomes enlarged(macroglossia).
- Hand grip may become weak.
- It may lead to breathing difficulty.
- ankles and legs may swell.
- Sometimes there may be weight loss.
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
- Change in the skin like itchy rash on the shins, thighs, feet, and forearms, multiple scaly, red/brown raised spots which may change into thickened plaques.
- It can lead to diarrhea.
- Voice may chang like hoarseness.
Amyloidosis Lichen Treatment
- There is no such particular treatment for this disease.
- Corticosteroids, chemotherapy agents or colchicine are helpful sometimes to treat this disease, but they are not very effective if the disease is severe or highly advanced.
- Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation consists of using high-dose chemotherapy and transfusion of previously collected immature blood cells (stem cells) to change the diseased or damaged marrow.
- Attacks of fever, joint, and abdominal pains due to this disease, can be prevented with the help of medication colchicine.
- Another treatment is the control of pruritus and scratching.
- Surgical methods like laser vaporization, dermabrasion, and excision - are helpful, but not very effective.
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