Key Information
It’s estimated that one in four people who die of “natural causes” over the age of 80external link, opens in a new tab have buildup in their heart from amyloidosis.
Recent innovations in heart imaging reveal that the condition is more common in the living, too. While it is still considered a rare disease, advanced diagnostic techniques have identified amyloidosis more frequently as an underlying cause of heart failure.
“Prior to the development of the non-invasive diagnostic techniques we can use today, amyloidosis often went undiagnosed,” said Keyur Shahexternal link, opens in a new tab, M.D., interim chair of cardiology and the head of the cardiac amyloidosis clinicexternal link, opens in a new tab at the VCU Health Pauley Heart Centerexternal link, opens in a new tab. “Amyloidosis symptoms were blamed on high blood pressure, diabetes or lifestyle factors. Patients were labeled as difficult to treat or unresponsive to therapies because providers were treating the wrong disease.”
VCU Health News spoke with Shah to learn more about cardiac amyloidosis symptoms, risk factors and why the Pauley Heart Center is the best place to come for complex cardiac care in Virginia.