Understanding Cardiac Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a group of diseases that can affect many organs in the body. When it affects the heart, it’s called cardiac (heart) amyloidosis or amyloid heart disease.

It happens when proteins that the body produces change shape or misfold and deposit in various organs. Unfortunately, we don’t know why this happens.

In the case of amyloid heart disease, the abnormal proteins (that create amyloid fibrils) clump together and get stuck in and around the heart muscle, making it hard for the heart to work properly. The wall of the heart can become thicker and stiffer.

Cardiac amyloidosis may lead to heart failure and serious heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation. 

Use this online resource to learn about two types of amyloidosis most likely to affect the heart, common signs and symptoms, and treatments.