[Amyloidosis is a rare cause of heart failure]

Light-chain amyloidosis (AL) is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis and is associated with an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. The disease is often difficult to recognize because of its broad range of manifestations and often vague symptoms. The clinical symptoms include proteinuria, hepatomegaly, heart failure and autonomic or sensory neuropathy. A 70-year-old man with a past medical history of sacroidosis and heart failure was admitted to hospital. He had breathlessness and swelling of his lower extremities. Among other symptoms the combination of transthoracic echo-cardiogram findings and low voltage on the ECG led to the diagnosis AL.