An Elderly Man With Progressive Dyspnea on Exertion and Atrial Fibrillation as Manifestations of Senile Cardiac Amyloidosis.
Senile cardiac amyloidosis is a form of amyloidosis seen more commonly in the elderly population. It was previously believed to have no functional significance, but more recent studies suggest that it is an important cause for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the elderly. The diagnosis may be challenging and it is important to have a high suspicion for this disease in the proper clinical setting. A patient with cardiac amyloidosis is presented in this paper to illustrate the clinical context in which one should consider this diagnosis. Information regarding diagnostic evaluation and a brief review of senile cardiac amyloidosis is presented. (c)2000 by CVRR, Inc.
Yunis
Nidal A.
NA
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI.
Petrasko
Marion S.
MS
Cannistra
Lauralyn B.
LB