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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Genetic Analysis of Hereditary Transthyretin Ala97Ser Related Amyloidosis
Published on: June 9, 2018
[Cardiac amyloidosis. A case report]
Doina Butcovan1, Cătălina Arsenescu, Dana Pintilie
1Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr T Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Disciplina de Morfopatologie.
Insights
This study highlights cardiac amyloidosis in a 50-year-old man with heart failure. Morphological examination of endomyocardial biopsy confirmed amyloid deposits, crucial for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pathology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Cardiac amyloidosis is a progressive condition often presenting as restrictive cardiomyopathy and chronic heart failure.
- Accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate patient management and treatment strategies.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old male patient presented with progressive chronic cardiac failure and a history of restrictive cardiomyopathy.
- A comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation, including right cardiac catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy, was performed.
- Biopsy specimens were processed using standard histological techniques and stained for amyloid detection.
Findings:
- Morphological examination revealed amyloid deposits within the interstitium and vascular walls of the endomyocardial biopsy.
- Specific staining methods, including sulphated blue Alcian, effectively highlighted the presence of amyloid.
Implications:
- Morphological examination of endomyocardial biopsy is a critical diagnostic tool for cardiac amyloidosis.
- Early and accurate diagnosis through histological analysis can guide therapeutic interventions.
- This case underscores the importance of integrating clinical presentation with detailed pathological findings.
Abstract:
The paper presents the morphoclinical picture in cardiac amyloidosis to a 50 years old man admitted at Iasi Cardiology Center with progressive chronic cardiac failure, the patient having recent history of restrictive cardiomyopathy. It was made a complete cardiovascular evaluation including the right cardiac catheterization for endomyocardial biopsy. The biopsy specimens were fixed in buffered 10 % formalin, followed by routine paraffin embedding, and were stained with haematoxylin-eosin, elastic Van Gieson and sulphated blue Alcian for amyloid evaluation. The amyloid deposits were evidentiated in the interstitium and into vascular walls of the biopsy, pointing the importance of the morphological exam for amyloidosis diagnosis.
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Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...