Cardiac amyloidosis is a condition where abnormal protein deposits build up in the heart, making it stiff and causing it to work less effectively. One common type is caused by a normal blood protein called transthyretin (TTR), which can become unstable and form these deposits. When this happens, it is called ATTR-CM, a form of heart disease caused by TTR protein buildup. This can lead to symptoms like tiredness, shortness of breath, or swelling.
Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is recognized as an early clinical sign of systemic amyloidosis, especially in the context of TTR amyloidosis, where amyloid deposits accumulate in the median nerve. Early identification of cardiac amyloidosis, particularly in patients with bilateral CTS, may allow for earlier intervention with disease-modifying therapies, such as tafamidis, which has been shown to improve survival and reduce hospitalizations in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.