Cardiac amyloidosisoccurs when abnormal proteins accumulate in the heart muscle, leading to potential arrhythmias and heart failure.
Because heart failure has many causes, it can take years to diagnose.
This article will discuss the causes and types of cardiac amyloidosis and its symptoms, complications, and management.
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In the case of cardiacamyloidosis, specific proteins accumulate in the heart muscle.
These proteins are abnormally folded and deposit in the heart, leading to scarring.
It can also lead toheart failureby preventing the heart from pumping blood to the rest of the body efficiently.
Light chains are a pop in of antibody created by plasma cells, which come frombone marrow.
These can deposit in the heart and other organs, leading to specific symptoms and organ dysfunction.
It’s hereditary as the genetic mutation is passed down in the genes.
Instead, the protein deposits in the heart over a period of decades.
Wild pop in ATTR is generally seen in people older than 70 years.
This is why diagnosis can be delayed.
Acardiologistcan investigate these symptoms and help determine the underlying cause.
Is Cardiac Amyloidosis Life-Threatening?
Amyloidosis that involves the heart is serious and may be life-threatening due toheart failureandarrhythmiasleading to sudden cardiac death.
This may ultimately help to improve outcomes as newer treatments can help slow the accumulation of misfolded proteins.
Notify your healthcare provider for any new or worsening symptoms.
From there, they can advise you on next steps.
Elevated cardiac biomarkers indicate greater heart involvement, and diagnosis at later stages is associated with worse prognosis.
Heart failure management includesdiureticsand dietary salt restriction to treat fluid overload.
This medication works to stabilize transthyretin to prevent further accumulation in the heart.
For specific treatments, enrollment in clinical trials may be an option.
Summary
Cardiac amyloidosis is a serious condition brought on by misfolded proteins that accumulate in the heart.
It can be classified as AL or ATTR based on the throw in of protein involved.
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