This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
The LAM Foundation
LAM Foundation
What is LAM?
Lymphangioleiolyomatosis, also known as LAM, is a rare lung disease that mostly affects women. This video explains more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of LAM.
Transcript
Lymphangiomyomatosis or LAM is a rare lung disease that affects women almost exclusively.
LAM is characterized by an abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells, especially in the lungs, lymphatic system, and kidneys.
Abnormal growth of these cells can lead to loss of lung function, accumulation of lymph rich fluid in the chest and abdomen, and growth of benign tumors in the kidneys.
The average age of women at the time of diagnosis is around 35 years old, but it can vary from 13 years old to over 80. Most women with LAM have had symptoms for several years before being diagnosed.
There are two types of LAM, Sporadic LAM or S-LAM and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex LAM or TSC-LAM. S-LAM is caused by random genetic changes called mutations that can happen during your life. TSC is an underlying multi-system genetic disease. It is caused by mutations in the TSC genes and can be inherited.
Symptoms of LAM may vary, but they may include shortness of breath, dyspnea, chest pain, pleurisy, chronic cough, tiredness, fatigue, lung collapse, pneumothorax, benign kidney tumours, angiomyolipomas and build-up a fluid called chyle in a chest cavity, known as pleural effusion, or the abdomen.
There is currently no cure for LAM. However, getting a diagnosis can help you access treatments that may improve quality of life and reduce or delay the need for invasive surgery. Find out more.
For more information, speak to a healthcare professional or look at these websites.
LAM is characterized by an abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells, especially in the lungs, lymphatic system, and kidneys.
Abnormal growth of these cells can lead to loss of lung function, accumulation of lymph rich fluid in the chest and abdomen, and growth of benign tumors in the kidneys.
The average age of women at the time of diagnosis is around 35 years old, but it can vary from 13 years old to over 80. Most women with LAM have had symptoms for several years before being diagnosed.
There are two types of LAM, Sporadic LAM or S-LAM and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex LAM or TSC-LAM. S-LAM is caused by random genetic changes called mutations that can happen during your life. TSC is an underlying multi-system genetic disease. It is caused by mutations in the TSC genes and can be inherited.
Symptoms of LAM may vary, but they may include shortness of breath, dyspnea, chest pain, pleurisy, chronic cough, tiredness, fatigue, lung collapse, pneumothorax, benign kidney tumours, angiomyolipomas and build-up a fluid called chyle in a chest cavity, known as pleural effusion, or the abdomen.
There is currently no cure for LAM. However, getting a diagnosis can help you access treatments that may improve quality of life and reduce or delay the need for invasive surgery. Find out more.
For more information, speak to a healthcare professional or look at these websites.
AnswerLists you might like
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
2 answers