The OSUCCC – James specialists and sub-specialists in the Comprehensive Amyloidosis Clinic reach across multiple medical disciplines (including hematology, cardiology, nephrology, neurology and physical therapy) and modes of treatment to offer patients the latest technologies and the most advanced tools to understand amyloidosis at the molecular and genetic levels – the levels that drive each patient’s specific disease.
Our team includes internationally renowned amyloidosis experts who understand that each patient’s disease is unique and who are continually studying, discovering and treating each type of amyloidosis as well as developing and delivering world-class treatments and interventions – even those that are often not available anywhere else in central Ohio.
Depending on your symptoms, the experts will do a physical exam to check overall health to look for signs of disease and discuss health habits, past illnesses and treatments. From there, the OSUCCC – James Comprehensive Amyloidosis Clinic experts may also recommend additional tests, which could include amyloid carpal tunnel syndrome screening, free genetic testing for hereditary (familial) amyloidosis and more.
After examination, OSUCCC – James experts may also conduct one or more of the following diagnostic tests:
- Specialized blood and urine tests, in which samples of blood or urine are used to help verify the diagnosis or to help determine which organs are affected.
- Echocardiogram and imaging, using ultrasound waves directed over the chest wall to obtain a graphic record of the heart's position, motion of the walls or internal parts such as the valves.
- Cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) allows the experts to see a more detailed image of the heart and use specific calculations to determine if the heart is affected by amyloidosis.
- Cardiac markers are used to evaluate the heart and detect stress caused by disease, determine a diagnosis and develop a prognosis and course of treatment.
- Technetium Pyrophosphate Scan (PYP) is a scan that reveals where in the body a specific type of amyloid transthyretin (ATTR) has deposited.
- Tissue biopsy involves removing a small sample of tissue to find evidence of abnormal cells that produce a specific amyloid deposit (light chain amyloidosis).
- Organ biopsy involves removing a small sample of organ tissue or cells to detect the amyloid and then determine the specific type of amyloid deposit.
- Neurologic testing to determine nerve involvement.
- Other diagnostic tests are recommended if/when needed.
If you have been diagnosed with amyloidosis, would like a second opinion or would like to speak with an amyloidosis specialist, please call The James Line at 800-293-5066 or 614-293-5066 to make an appointment.
If you are a health care provider and would like to find out more, refer a patient or schedule a consult, please call 614-293-3196.