Key Information
If you’ve been diagnosed with amyloidosis, your doctor will assess how far the disease has progressed. This is called staging. As you go through amyloidosis treatment, your doctor may order tests to determine whether the disease is staying the same, getting better, or getting worse. These results can help your doctor estimate your prognosis (outlook) and guide your treatment plan.
There are several different types of amyloidosis, and each affects the body a little differently. The type you have depends on which abnormal protein is involved and which organs are affected. Because of that, doctors use different staging systems for different types. Tailoring staging to your specific type helps provide a more accurate picture of how advanced the disease is and allows for personalized care.
Staging Amyloid Light-Chain Amyloidosis
Amyloid light-chain amyloidosis (AL), or primary amyloidosis, is the most common type of amyloidosis. Doctors use several systems to stage this condition, depending on which organs are affected. Some systems focus on heart damage, and others focus on how well the kidneys are working.