Rapid decline in ejection fraction and persistent elevation of troponin associated with cardiac amyloidosis. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abe, Temidayo; Chang, Eric Y; De Allie, Gabrielle; Ajose, Taiwo; Nwokike, Chukwuemeka; Bakinde, Nicolas
• Is Part Of: SAGE open medical case reports. Volume 8(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Cardiovascular -- cardiac amyloidosis -- heart failure -- troponin -- echocardiography -- diagnosis; Clinical medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 616.09
• DOI: 10.1177/2050313X20923259
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-313X

Abstract

Cardiac amyloidosis is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure. It remains underdiagnosed despite a significant morbidity and mortality rate. The mean survival in patients with cardiac amyloidosis is less than 1 year in untreated primary light-chain amyloidosis and less than 4 years in wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis. We report a unique case of a 78-year-old male with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, who presented with persistently elevated troponin and progressive heart failure unresponsive to conventional therapy. With this case, we would like to highlight the role of cardiac biomarkers in the early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis.