Diagnostic Testing for Amyloidosis-2. Cardiac Amyloidosis: Overview and Clinical Clues

2. Cardiac Amyloidosis: Overview and Clinical Clues

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Amrath Ambedekar provides an overview of cardiac amyloidosis, highlighting two main types relevant to cardiology: AL cardiac amyloidosis and ATTR amyloidosis, each involving distinct proteins that misfold and deposit in the heart. Echocardiographic and MRI imaging reveal clues such as left and right ventricular wall thickening, atrial enlargement, and characteristic strain patterns. Despite common beliefs, cardiac amyloidosis is underdiagnosed, often mistaken for other conditions like hypertensive heart disease. Clinical suspicion should arise when there are unexplained echocardiographic findings, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, low ECG voltages, and specific non-cardiac symptoms like neuropathy and orthopedic issues. Dr. Ambedekar stresses the importance of recognizing these clues and utilizing diagnostic pathways for a potentially non-invasive diagnosis. Early diagnosis is crucial now that effective treatments exist, significantly improving patient outcomes.

Keywords

cardiac amyloidosis

AL amyloidosis

ATTR amyloidosis

echocardiographic findings

early diagnosis