Amyloid cardiomyopathy

Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

Amyloid cardiomyopathy (pronounced: am-uh-loid kar-dee-oh-my-op-uh-thee) is a form of cardiomyopathy characterized by the deposition of amyloid proteins in the heart tissue, leading to a stiffening of the heart muscle and impaired function.

Etymology

The term "amyloid cardiomyopathy" is derived from the Greek words "amylon" meaning starch and "kardia" meaning heart, and the suffix "-pathy" from the Greek "pathos" meaning suffering. This refers to the starch-like appearance of the amyloid proteins and the heart disease caused by their accumulation.

Definition

Amyloid cardiomyopathy is a type of cardiomyopathy where amyloid proteins, which are abnormally folded, accumulate in the heart tissue. This accumulation leads to a stiffening of the heart muscle, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively. It is a common manifestation of systemic amyloidosis, a disorder characterized by the deposition of amyloid proteins in various organs.

Symptoms

Symptoms of amyloid cardiomyopathy can include fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and ankles (edema), and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia). These symptoms are often progressive and can lead to heart failure if left untreated.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of amyloid cardiomyopathy typically involves a combination of physical examination, medical history, and diagnostic tests such as echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and cardiac MRI. A definitive diagnosis may require a biopsy of the heart tissue to confirm the presence of amyloid proteins.

Treatment

Treatment for amyloid cardiomyopathy focuses on managing symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. This can include medications to manage heart failure symptoms, treatments to slow the production of amyloid proteins, and in severe cases, heart transplantation.

Related Terms

• Cardiomyopathy
• Amyloidosis
• Arrhythmia
• Edema
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram
• Cardiac MRI

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Amyloid cardiomyopathy
• Wikipedia's article - Amyloid cardiomyopathy

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski