National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Hereditary amyloidosis

Hereditary amyloidosis refers to a group of inherited conditions that make up one of the subtypes of amyloidosis. Hereditary amyloidosis is characterized by the deposit of an abnormal protein called amyloid in multiple organs of the body where it should not be, which causes disruption of organ tissue structure and function.[1] In hereditary amyloidosis, amyloid deposits most often occur in tissues of the heart, kidneys, and nervous system.[2] While symptoms of hereditary amyloidosis may appear in childhood, most individuals do not experience symptoms until adulthood.[3] There are many types of hereditary amyloidosis associated with different gene mutations and abnormal proteins. The most common type of hereditary amyloidosis is transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), a condition in which the amyloid deposits are most often made up of the transthyretin protein which is made in the liver. Other examples of hereditary amyloidosis include, but are not limited to, apolipoprotein AI amyloidosis (A ApoAI), gelsolin amyloidosis (A Gel), lysozyme amyloidosis (A Lys), cystatin C amyloidosis (A Cys), fibrinogen Aα-chain amyloidosis (A Fib), and apolipoprotein AII amyloidosis (A ApoAII).[4] Most types of hereditary amyloidosis are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.[3] Treatment is focused on addressing symptoms of organ damage and slowing down the production of amyloid when possible through methods such as liver transplants.[4] 
Last updated: 7/19/2016
The hereditary amyloidoses are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This means that one altered copy of the disease-causing gene (called a mutation) in each cell is sufficient to cause the disease. The disease-causing mutation can be inherited from a parent or it can occur for the first time in an individual. Each child of an individual affected with hereditary amyloidosis has a 50% (1 in 2) risk to inherit the disease-causing mutation and a 50% chance of not inheriting the mutation. However, not all individuals with a mutation in a gene that causes hereditary amyloidosis will develop signs and symptoms of the disease.
Last updated: 9/16/2011
In the case of hereditary amyloidoses, the existence of a family history or similar illness is of great assistance in diagnosing the condition. However, not everyone with a mutation in a gene associated with hereditary amyloidosis will develop symptoms. Additionally, symptoms of the disease typically do not appear until older age and the condition may have been misdiagnosed in other affected family members. For these reasons, the absence of a family history may be misleading.[1]

The diagnosis of amyloidosis is usually made by performing a tissue biopsy and staining the tissue with Congo red stain to detect the presence or absence of amyloid deposits. The biopsy may be from any affected organ, but biopsying the rectal mucosa generally results in better detection of the following hereditary amyloidoses: transthyretin amyloidosis, apolipoprotein AI amyloidosis, fibrinogen Aα-chain amyloidosis (A Fib), and apolipoprotein AII amyloidosis (A ApoAII).[1]

Additionally, when a hereditary amyloidoses is suspected, genetic testing may be able to confirm a diagnosis. It is important to note that genetic testing may not be available for all types of hereditary amyloidoses. For those individuals interested in pursuing genetic testing, we recommend scheduling a genetics consultation to determine whether genetic testing would be appropriate and available.
Last updated: 9/16/2011

The resources below provide information about treatment options for this condition. If you have questions about which treatment is right for you, talk to your healthcare professional.

Management Guidelines

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Hereditary amyloidosis. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Social Networking Websites

  • RareConnect has an online community for patients and families with this condition so they can connect with others and share their experiences living with a rare disease. The project is a joint collaboration between EURORDIS (European Rare Disease Organisation) and NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders).

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • The Mayo Clinic provides information on the diagnosis and treatment of amyloidosis.
  • Amyloidosis Awareness is an illustrated booklet for patients and physicians developed by Amyloidosis Support Groups Inc. Versions of the booklet are also available in Spanish and Portuguese.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Hereditary amyloidosis. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • My dad and his sister passed away from this and in the last few months his other sister was diagnosed. What are the chances of me and my brother getting it? I've already had a number of things change with my health in the last two years, such as hypothyroidism and diabetes. Are there any things I should look out for? See answer

  • My dad has been diagnosed with amyloidosis. How can we know if it is hereditary amyloidosis or not? See answer


  1. Benson MD. The hereditary amyloidoses. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology. 2003; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15123043.
  2. Hereditary Amyloidosis. MedlinePlus. 10/27/2015; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000368.htm.
  3. Rowczenio DM, Noor I, Gillmore JD, Lachmann HJ, Whelan C, Hawkins PN, Obici L, Westermark P, Grateau G, Wechalekar AD. Online Registry for Mutations in Hereditary Amyloidosis Including Nomenclature Recommendations. Hum Mutat. Sep 2014; 35(9):E2402-12. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25044787.
  4. Hereditary Amyloidosis. Amyloidosis Foundation. http://www.amyloidosis.org/facts/familial/. Accessed 7/19/2016.