Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of amyloidosis include:

• Age. Most people diagnosed with amyloidosis are between ages 60 and 70, although earlier onset occurs.
• Sex. Amyloidosis occurs more commonly in men.
• Other diseases. Having a chronic infectious or inflammatory disease increases your risk of AA amyloidosis.
• Family history. Some types of amyloidosis are hereditary.
• Kidney dialysis. Dialysis can't always remove large proteins from the blood. If you're on dialysis, abnormal proteins can build up in your blood and eventually be deposited in tissue. This condition is less common with more modern dialysis techniques.
• Race. People of African descent appear to be at higher risk of carrying a genetic mutation associated with a type of amyloidosis that can harm the heart.