Who Is At Risk for LAM?

LAM mostly affects women in their mid-forties. More than 7 out of every 10 patients are between the ages of 20 and 40 when they begin to have symptoms. But LAM may occur in women as old as 70 to 80. There are also a few reports of LAM occurring in men.

Today, about 675 women in the United States have been diagnosed with either LAM alone or LAM with tuberous sclerosis complex. Scientists believe that many more women have LAM, but they have been misdiagnosed with another more common lung disease, such as emphysema, asthma, or bronchitis.

Since LAM affects about 3 out of every 10 women with TSC, there may be as many as 10,000 women in the United States who have TSC and undiagnosed LAM. Many of these women may have mild cases of LAM that are not causing symptoms. Not all TSC patients who have LAM have lung problems.