Difference Between Amyloidosis and Sarcoidosis (With Table)

The disease is an abnormal condition that happens in the human body. It affects the body negatively, causing harm. It affects the body in such a way that either the function or the structure of an organism gets imbalanced. Diseases can be treated medically. It is referred to as a medical condition that is related to specific symptoms.

Most diseases are caused due to external things like a pathogen, virus, or bacteria that may enter the body and can cause pain, dysfunction, distress, social problems, or death. Diseases not only affect us physically, but they can affect us mentally so much that the perspective of life gets changed. Amyloidosis and Sarcoidosis are the two types of abnormal diseases.

Amyloidosis vs Sarcoidosis

The main difference between Amyloidosis and Sarcoidosis is that Amylodoisis is a very rare disease that happens in old age. It is an abnormal condition where proteins present inside the body begin to accumulate in the tissues. Sarcoidosis is an abnormal condition where there is a growth of the granulomata that can happen in any part of the body like lymph, lungs, or lymph nodes. Besides, it can affect other parts eyes, liver, heart, and brain. This disease happens to people who are of the age group of 20 years to 40 years.

Amyloidosis is a condition where amyloid fibrils develop in the tissue of the body. There are various symptoms related to this fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, peripheral oedema, weight loss, and feeling faint withstanding. It happens to the old age group. It is a very rare condition. There are 36 types of Amyloidosis, each of which happens due to a specific protein. Proteins are misfolded or become irregular either due to environmental factors or due to a genetic condition.

Sarcoidosis is a condition that involves the whole group of inflammatory cells. These cells form lumps in the body called Granuloamata. This disease begins in specific body organs, i.e., lymph nodes, skin, or lungs. But other organs need to get affected. When sarcoidosis happens in the lungs, the symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain. The causes of sarcoidosis are unknown. Although it is believed that it may happen due to genetic conditions or due to an infection.

Comparison Table Between Amyloidosis and Sarcoidosis

Parameters of Comparison 

Amyloidosis

Sarcoidosis

Speciality

Cardiology, Hematology, Endocrinology.

Immunology and Rheumatology.

Age

55-65 years

20-50 years old women

Causes

TB, leprosy, inherited mutations, ulcers, abdominal infections, and inflammation.

Unknown

Symptoms

Feeling tired, weight loss, swelling of the legs, shortness of breath, bleeding, feeling light-headed withstanding.

Depends upon the organ affected.

Treatment

Dialysis, Supportive care, organ transplantation.

Ibuprofen, prednisone, methotrexate

What is Amyloidosis?

Amyloidosis forms based on amyloid accumulation. The most affected organ due to amyloidosis is the heart and kidneys. This disease happens due to the growth of the protein and if they are misfolding. Proteins that are responsible for the amyloid deposits are found to be secreted proteins. There are 36 or 37 different types of amyloidosis. Out of which, only four of the proteins are cytosolic. The diagnostic method that is followed during amyloidosis is tissue biopsy.

Symptoms of Amyloidosis include peripheral oedema, weight loss, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, and feeling faint withstanding. The four most common types of symptoms that happen in systemic amyloidosis are inflammation, dialysis-related, light chain, and hereditary and old age and familial amyloid polyneuropathy. Amyloidosis is confirmed when there is an enlargement of the organs or protein that comes in urine. Often a diagnosis of amyloidosis can take time to detect.

Amyloidosis has a prevalence that in 1 lakh people about 30 can be confirmed with the most common types, i.e. ATTR, AA and AL. The prognosis of Amyloidosis depends upon the type and the part it is going to affect. It can be improved with the treatment. Most treatment involved is to reduce the amount of protein. Since 1639, Amyloidosis has been discovered. If an untreated patient can leave from six months to four years depending upon the type.

What is Sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis is a collection of inflammatory cells that forms lumps around the body parts called Granulomata. The causes of Sarcoidosis is unknown. Although it is believed that it may happen due to genetic conditions or some reaction that may trigger the infection. A person who is affected with Sarcoidosis is at greater risk if they are living with family members. Diagnosis of sarcoidosis depends upon the symptoms and signs of the disease. Usually, a biopsy is done to confirm the disease.

In Sarcoidosis, any organ can be affected. Often mild or no symptoms can be seen. Sometimes sarcoidosis can resolve itself without any treatment. Sometimes, it can take a long time or severe form. Some drugs are used that can improve inflammatory conditions like ibuprofen, methotrexate, chloroquine, or azathioprine etc. The mortality rate of Sarcoidosis is 1 to 7%. The chances that it will affect the second time a patient is less than 5%.

Sarcoidosis was discovered in 1877 by one of the English doctors, Jonathan Hutchinson. When he discovered it, he called it the non-painful skin disease. This disease is more common in women than men. It is seen that this disease happens mostly to the Scandinavian people. But in the rest of the world also it is found. In the USA, it is more common among black people than non-blacks.

Main Differences Between Amyloidosis and Sarcoidosis

  1. Amyloidosis belongs to the field of Cardiology, Hematology, Endocrinology. Sarcoidosis belongs to the field of Immunology and Rheumatology.
  2. Amyloidosis affects the age group between 55-65 years. Sarcoidosis affects the age group between 20-50 years. It is most6 common in women.
  3. Causes of Amyloidosis include TB, leprosy, inherited mutations, ulcers, abdominal infections, and inflammation. The causes of sarcoidosis are unknown.
  4. Symptoms of Amyloidosis include Feeling tired, weight loss, swelling of the legs, shortness of breath, bleeding, feeling light-headed withstanding. Symptoms of Sarcoidosis include depends upon the organ affected.
  5. Treatment of Amyloidosis includes Dialysis, supportive care, organ transplantation. Treatment of Sarcoidosis includes Ibuprofen, prednisone, methotrexate.

Conclusion

Both Amyloidosis and sarcoidosis are abnormal conditions. Both diseases are related to deposits or growth in the tissues of the body. The diagnostic method used in both diseases is Tissue Biopsy. Amyloidosis can happen to both older and younger people. Sarcoidosis mostly happens in younger people. In some cases, it was found that sarcoidosis can sometimes lead to Amyloidosis. Noth of the disease is not the same. Amyloidosis involves amyloid deposits, and Sarcoidosis involves Granuloma deposits. Survival condition in Sarcoidosis is more than amyloidosis resulting from 2 to 5 years.

References

  1. https://europepmc.org/article/med/3659618
  2. https://europepmc.org/article/med/10227097