Digestive Problems
Diseases: Small Bowel: Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is a diffuse multisystem disorder characterized by a deposition of proteinaceous material within various tissues which affects their functioning. Amyloidosis may be primary (when it occurs for unknown reasons), or secondary in response to chronic inflammatory diseases such as multiple myeloma, or Crohn's disease. When amyloidosis affects the intestines it renders it functionless from two perspectives. Firstly, by causing diffuse infiltration it prevents normal muscular contractions and the intestine cannot propel its contents adequately. This will predispose it to bacterial overgrowth as well as poor mixing of luminal contents for digestion and absorption. Secondly, amyloidosis will also infiltrate the lining of the intestine to such an extent that it will interfere with normal cell function and impedes digestion and absorption. There is no effective therapy for amyloidosis.