Cardiac Amyloidosis Patient With Cardiac Conduction Disturbances

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) has recently been diagnosed more because of advances in diagnostic techniques, such as ^99mTc-labeled pyrophosphate (^99mTc-PYP) scintigraphy. ATTR-CA remains poorly diagnosed by many physicians, except for cardiologists and neurologists, and by patients. In this manuscript, we present a patient who was recommended to undergo a close examination but developed cardiac conduction disturbances and defects due to delays in the examination and treatment initiation. The patient was a 72-year-old Japanese man treated for hypertension at our hospital for approximately 30 years. The patient was diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy at 62 years old and hospitalized for heart failure at 68 years old. ATTR-CA was suspected by ^99mTc-PYP scintigraphy performed at 70 years old, and a skin biopsy was performed. However, the skin biopsy did not confirm the diagnosis, and myocardial biopsy was recommended, which was declined by the patient. He finally consented to myocardial biopsy 2 years later, leading to the diagnosis of ATTR-CA at 72 years old. However, the patient had atrial fibrillation and a complete atrioventricular block. If ATTR-CA were widely recognized and understood, it might have been diagnosed and treated before the cardiac conduction disturbances appeared. It is essential to have an understanding and appropriate examinations for ATTR-CA based on sufficient explanation and consent.