What Is LAM?
LAM, or lymphangioleiomyomatosis
(lim-FAN-je-o-LI-o-MI-o-ma-TO-sis), is a rare lung disease that mostly affects
women in their mid-forties.
In LAM, an unusual type of cell begins to grow out
of control throughout your body, including in the lungs, lymph nodes and
vessels, and kidneys.
Over time, these LAM cells form cysts and clusters
of cells, which grow throughout the lungs and slowly block the airways. They
also destroy the normal lung tissue and replace it with cysts. As a result, air
cannot move freely in and out of the lungs, and the lungs cannot supply enough
oxygen to the bodys other organs.
More than 1 out of every 3 people with LAM also
develops growths called angiomyolipomas (AN-je-o-my-o-li-PO-mas), or AMLs, in
their kidneys. People with LAM also may develop:
- Growths in other organs, including the liver and
brain
- Large tumors on their lymph nodes
There currently is no cure for LAM.
The most common cause of death from LAM is
respiratory failure.
There are two forms of LAM:
- Sporadic LAM, which occurs for unknown
reasons
- An often milder form of LAM that occurs in people
with a rare inherited disease called
tuberous sclerosis complex
The term lymphangioleiomyomatosis comes
from the Greek. Lymph and angio refer to the lymph
vessels, and leiomyomas refers to the type of cells involved in
LAM.
Doctors have learned a lot about LAM in recent
years. They are now able to diagnose the condition earlier and provide support
services that improve patients quality of life. Not too long ago, doctors
thought that the life expectancy for women with LAM was less than 10 years
following diagnosis. We now know that some patients with LAM may survive for
more than 20 years.
April 2008
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