Final answer:
AL amyloidosis involves amyloid proteins from abnormal plasma cells, whereas Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis comes from mutated transthyretin genes. Diagnoses use biopsies and genetic testing, leading to different treatments such as chemotherapy for AL amyloidosis and gene therapy for hATTR amyloidosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
To differentiate between AL amyloidosis and Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR), it is important to understand the protein abnormalities involved in these conditions. Amyloidosis is a group of diseases known as proteopathies, where dysfunctional protein folding leads to accumulation of toxic proteins. In AL amyloidosis, the amyloid proteins are derived from light chains produced by abnormal plasma cells, while in hATTR amyloidosis, mutations in the transthyretin gene lead to the production of amyloid proteins. Diagnosis typically involves biopsies and specialized staining to identify the type of amyloid deposits. Genetic testing can confirm hereditary transthyretin mutations for hATTR amyloidosis. The choice of treatment may differ, potentially involving chemotherapy for AL amyloidosis, whereas hATTR amyloidosis may include liver transplantation or drugs that stabilize or silence the mutated transthyretin gene.