For a few years before her death Margaret had been feeling under the weather and her strength and mobility had gradually been declining. She spoke often of her feelings of exhaustion. For several years she had undergone all sorts of tests and scans none of which had come up with a firm diagnosis until a few months before her death, while investigating a kidney problem, a kidney biopsy revealed the presence of amyloid in her kidney. She was quickly referred to the Royal Free Hospital in London, the only place in the UK to investigate this very rare illness. A special scan revealed that the amyloid was also present in other organs and it was recommended that she undergo a lengthy course of chemotherapy which was the only available option to try and arrest the spread of the disease. The damage already caused to her organs was effectively irreversible. Margaret completed five weeks of chemotherapy but became rapidly very much weaker and at the sixth week it was decided that she was too ill to continue with it. At this point she was admitted to hospital to investigate further and to try and get her stronger with a view to resuming the chemotherapy. However, it soon became apparent that this would not be possible and after about three weeks she was discharged to the hospice where she was cared for during what was to be the last seven weeks of her life. What is amyloidosis? The term amyloidosis describes conditions in which protein is deposited in an abnormal form, as amyloid fibres (fibrils), in the body's tissues and organs. Amyloid fibrils can gradually build up in tissues and organs because the body can only break them down very slowly.They can therefore disrupt the structure and function of the affected tissues and organs. What is AL amyloidosis? AL amyloidosis is one form of amyloidosis arising from abnormal plasma cells. Plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and protect the body against viruses and infections by producing antibodies. In AL amyloidosis a single population (or clone) of plasma cells grows excessively and produces abnormal proteins which are deposited as amyloid fibrils in tissues and organs.The heart, liver, kidneys,spleen, intestine, skin and the nervous system can be affected. AL amyloidosis does not affect the brain. It is a rare disease, with approximately 600 new cases in the UK each year. It usually affects people between the ages of 50 and 70 years, but can occur in younger adults. What causes AL amyloidosis? The causes of AL amyloidosis are not known. It is not contagious or known to be inherited.