Misconceptions and Facts About Cardiac Amyloidosis

Cardiac amyloidosis is an important clinical entity associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the signs and symptoms can be apparent early in the disease course, diagnoses are often made late because of inadequate recognition. A diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis requires careful scrutiny of a patient's symptoms, an electrocardiogram, and imaging studies, including echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Further evaluation is required through the measurement of serum and urine light chains and the use of bone scintigraphy imaging to differentiate transthyretin amyloidosis from light-chain cardiac amyloidosis. The available treatments have expanded tremendously in recent years and have improved outcomes in the population with this disorder. Thus, it has become increasingly important to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis and provide timely therapies. This article will clarify the various misconceptions about cardiac amyloidosis and provide a framework for primary care providers to better identify this disease in their practice.