Myeloma-associated cardiac amyloidosis. A case report

A patient with Bence-Jones myeloma and amyloidosis was treated with cytotoxic drugs and plasmapheresis, resulting in rapid improvement of myeloma-associated symptoms and signs. However, amyloidosis-associated symptoms, especially hypotension, grew worse. Echocardiographic examination demonstrated hypertrophy and a hyperrefractile appearance of the myocardium, thought to be pathognomonic of amyloid heart disease. A permanent pacemaker was inserted for treatment of Adams-Stokes attacks caused by sick sinus syndrome and atrioventricular conduction disturbances. Postmortem examination of the heart demonstrated abundant amyloid deposits corresponding to the altered acoustic qualities of the myocardium. Echocardiographic examination is a valuable non-invasive method for demonstration of amyloid deposits in the heart in multiple myeloma.