Cardiac resynchronization therapy in a patient with amyloid cardiomyopathy

David Zizek1, Marta Cvijić, Igor Zupan

  • 1Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. davidzizek@yahoo.com

Acta Cardiologica
|July 26, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Systemic light chain amyloidosis can cause heart failure due to amyloid buildup. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) combined with chemotherapy improved a patient's cardiac function and symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Amyloidosis

Background:

  • Cardiac involvement in systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL) is a significant predictor of poor prognosis.
  • Amyloid deposition in the myocardium disrupts normal left ventricular contraction and induces dyssynchrony.
  • Advanced heart failure with echocardiographic dyssynchrony is a target for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Observation:

  • A patient diagnosed with amyloid cardiomyopathy presented with cardiac involvement.
  • The patient's condition was managed using a combined therapeutic approach.
  • Treatment involved both chemotherapy and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Findings:

  • The patient demonstrated a positive clinical response to the combined treatment.
  • Echocardiographic assessments revealed significant improvement following therapy.
  • The combination of chemotherapy and CRT was effective in managing this case.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential benefit of CRT in amyloid cardiomyopathy.
  • Combined therapy may offer a viable strategy for managing cardiac dysfunction in AL amyloidosis.
  • Further research into CRT for amyloid cardiomyopathy is warranted.

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