心肌淀粉样变的诊断及治疗进展

心肌淀粉样变为非折叠蛋白在心肌组织沉积,进而导致心脏结构及功能损伤。虽然对心肌淀粉样变的认识逐步深入,但是很多患者诊断为心肌淀粉样变时已经是终末期。本文将综述轻链型淀粉样变（AL）、老年型系统性淀粉样变（wtATTR）及遗传型淀粉样变（mATTR）最新诊疗方法,为心肌淀粉样变的早期诊断、早期治疗提供新的思路。     

Clinical diagnosis and typing of systemic amyloidosis in subcutaneous fat aspirates by mass spectrometry-based proteomics

Examination of abdominal subcutaneous fat aspirates is a practical, sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis. Here we describe the development and implementation of a clinical assay using mass spectrometry-based proteomics to type amyloidosis in subcutaneous fat aspirates. First, we validated the assay comparing amyloid-positive (n=43) and -negative (n=26) subcutaneous fat aspirates. The assay classified amyloidosis with 88% sensitivity and 96% specificity. We then implemented the assay as a clinical test, and analyzed 366 amyloid-positive subcutaneous fat aspirates in a 4-year period as part of routine clinical care. The assay had a sensitivity of 90%, and diverse amyloid types, including immunoglobulin light chain (74%), transthyretin (13%), serum amyloid A (%1), gelsolin (1%), and lysozyme (1%), were identified. Using bioinformatics, we identified a universal amyloid proteome signature, which has high sensitivity and specificity for amyloidosis similar to that of Congo red staining. We curated proteome databases which included variant proteins associated with systemic amyloidosis, and identified clonotypic immunoglobulin variable gene usage in immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis, and the variant peptides in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. In conclusion, mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of subcutaneous fat aspirates offers a powerful tool for the diagnosis and typing of systemic amyloidosis. The assay reveals the underlying pathogenesis by identifying variable gene usage in immunoglobulin light chains and the variant peptides in hereditary amyloidosis.     

Cardiac amyloidosis: clinical, x-ray, electric, hemodynamic, developmental and pathological aspects. Apropos of 85 cases collected from French cardiology departments]

85 cases of cardiac amyloidosis have been collected from the university cardiac departments of France. Four distinct clinical pictures have emerged: 1. Primary cardiac amyloidosis (36 cases) which combines: congestive cardiac failure, ECG signs (extreme axis deviation, low voltage, signs of myocardial necrosis), arrhythmias (67%), and a rapidly fatal outcome (23.2 m +/- 8.5); 2. Cardiac amyloidosis associated with a marked neuromuscular amyloidosis (8 cases), in patients of Portuguese extraction (4 out of 8), with a positive family history (6 out of 8), characterised by arrhythmias (5 out of 8), and with a better prognosis (1 death out of 8); 3. Cardiac amyloidosis associated with a dysglobulinaemia (14 cases) with a clinical picture which is almost identical with that of primary cardiac amuloidosis; 4. Senile cardiac amyloidosis, whose frequency increases with age, may sometimes be discovered at routine post mortem examination, and is characterised by atrial fibrillation (13 out of 27) and its association with anaemia, signs of inflammation, and coronary atheroma.     

Crohn's ileitis complicated by amyloidosis: observations and therapeutic considerations

We present a patient with clinically asymptomatic amyloidosis associated with Crohn's ileitis. A distinction should be made between immunocytic dyscrasia associated with amyloidosis (formerly primary or myeloma-associated amyloidosis) and acquired systemic amyloidosis (formerly secondary amyloidosis). We compare the natural course of amyloidosis complicating Crohn's disease with these complicating familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), and discuss the role of resection and the rationale behind colchicine therapy. Our patient is the first reported case in which colchicine therapy alone has been successful in the prophylactic treatment of amyloidosis complicating Crohn's ileitis.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">SAA1</Emphasis> α/α alleles in Behçet’s disease related amyloidosis

Behçet’s disease (BD) related amyloidosis is relatively rare. Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) protein gene polymorphism is one of the factors implicated in the pathogenesis of AA type amyloidosis. The aim of this study is to investigate SAA1 gene polymorphism in different patient groups: (1) BD related amyloidosis, (2) BD without amyloidosis, and (3) healthy controls. One hundred eleven patients from three main groups were included in the study: (1) BD related amyloidosis (n?=?9), (2) BD without amyloidosis (n?=?39), and (3) healthy controls (n?=?63). Homozygous α/α is present in 78% of patients with BD and amyloidosis. The SAA1 α/α genotype is significantly more common among patients with BD and amyloidosis. This study demonstrated increased frequency of α/α genotype in BD related amyloidosis. To our knowledge, the relationship between α/α genotype and BD related amyloidosis was not studied previously. In conclusion, the SAA1 α/α genotype is a risk factor for amyloidosis in BD.     

30例淀粉样变性患者的临床特点分析

目的 总结淀粉样变性的临床特征,提高对该病的认识水平。 方法 回顾北京友谊医院23年来30例诊断为淀粉样变性患者的临床资料、实验室检查结果以及治疗情况。 结果 系统性淀粉样变性12例,其中原发性9例、继发性1例、家族性2例;局限性淀粉样变性18例。男性17例,女性13例。系统性淀粉样变性患者中肾脏(75.00％)、肝脏(58.33％)、神经系统(58.33％)和心脏(50.00％)是常见的受累部位。常见临床表现为不明原因的乏力、体重减轻、水肿、大量蛋白尿、肝脏肿大、四肢麻木。局限性淀粉样变性主要累及皮肤、咽喉和消化道,多采取动态观察和局部手术切除治疗。 结论 淀粉样变性可累及多器官系统,临床表现多种多样,误诊率高,确诊需靠病理检查、刚果红染色。临床医师提高对本病警惕性是避免误诊的主要途径。     

Plasma hepatocyte growth factor is a novel marker of AL cardiac amyloidosis

Abstract

Background: Cardiac amyloidosis is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy that is challenging to diagnose. We hypothesized that the novel biomarkers hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), galectin-3 (GAL-3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) would be elevated in cardiac amyloidosis and may be able to discriminate from non-cardiac systemic amyloidosis or other cardiomyopathies with similar clinical or morphologic characteristics.

Methods: Patients were selected from the Vanderbilt Main Heart Registry according to the following groups: (1) amyloid light-chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis (n?=?26); (2) transthyretin (ATTR) cardiac amyloidosis (n?=?7); (3) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (n?=?45); (4) systolic heart failure (n?=?42); and (5) non-cardiac systemic amyloidosis (n?=?7). Biomarkers were measured in stored plasma samples. Biomarkers' discrimination performance in predicting AL cardiac amyloidosis (i.e., Concordance index) was reported. A survival analysis was used to explore the relationship between HGF levels and mortality among AL cardiac amyloidosis patients.

Results: HGF levels were markedly elevated in patients with AL cardiac amyloidosis (median?=?622, interquartile range (IQR): 299–1228?pg/mL) compared with the other groups, including those with non-cardiac systemic amyloidosis (median?=?134, IQR: 94–163?pg/mL, p?<?0.001). HGF was not a specific marker for ATTR amyloidosis. Gal-3 was elevated in all groups with amyloidosis but could not differentiate between those with and without cardiac involvement. There was no difference in IL-6 or VEGF between those with AL cardiac amyloidosis compared to other groups (p?=?0.13 and 0.057, respectively).

Conclusions: HGF may be a specific marker that distinguishes AL cardiac amyloidosis from other cardiomyopathies with similar clinical or morphologic characteristics. Further studies are necessary to determine whether HGF levels predict the likelihood of survival.     

Senile cardiac amyloidosis in senescence accelerated mouse (SAM)

The characteristics of the senescence accelerated mouse (SAM), a new murine model for accelerated senescence, are early senescence and a high incidence of senile amyloidosis. This study was performed to clarify histopathologically the details of senile cardiac amyloidosis in SAM, and the incidence of amyloidosis in the heart of SAM (-P) was 46.0% (1+: 22.0; 2+: 16.0; 3+: 8.0%). Amyloid infiltrated the ventricular walls, interventricular septum, atrial walls and interatrial septum. Amyloid deposition was prominent around the myocardial fibers and in the vascular walls. Amyloid involvement was greater in the veins than in the arteries. Senile cardiac amyloidosis of SAM was mild or moderate and not severe, in general. The age dependency of amyloidosis incidence of the heart was confirmed. The heart/body weight ratio tended to parallel the grade of cardiac amyloidosis. SAM often had complications such as abscess, lymphoma, skin ulcer, etc. The incidence of amyloidosis was higher in SAM with these complications than in SAM without them. The complications seemed to promote the progress of cardiac amyloidosis and to superimpose secondary amyloidosis. In SAM senile cardiac amyloidosis is less frequent than renal amyloidosis (64.4%) or hepatic amyloidosis (63.3%).     

HLA-DRB1*04 alleles in Japanese rheumatoid arthritis patients with AA amyloidosis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis versus those without AA amyloidosis. METHODS: The HLA-DRB1 alleles were genotyped for 91 RA patients without AA amyloidosis, 33 RA patients with AA amyloidosis, and 63 control subjects. HLA-DRB1 typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction, sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridization method. RESULTS: Although a significant difference was not observed, the frequency of SE genotype was higher in RA patients with AA amyloidosis than in those without AA amyloidosis. All SE-positive RA patients with AA amyloidosis had *04 alleles (*0401, *0405, *0410), and a significant association of the presence of a double dose of *04 SE alleles with AA amyloidosis (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.91-13.99) was observed. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that presence of double *04 SE is associated with a higher risk of developing AA amyloidosis in Japanese patients with RA.     

Differential diagnosis of localized and systemic amyloidosis based on coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters

Background: A simple assay that can discriminate between localized and systemic amyloidosis is needed. Methods: Coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters were measured in subjects with active or progressive systemic amyloidosis (Group A; 9 patients), systemic amyloidosis in complete remission (Group B; 6 patients), localized AL amyloidosis (Group C; 6 patients), monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (Group D; 5 patients), chronic glomerulonephritis with proteinuria (Group E; 22 patients), or glomerulonephritis in complete remission (Group F; 11 patients). Results: No significant differences were noted between Group A and the other groups in the international normalized ratio of prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and levels of antithrombin and plasminogen. Levels of thrombin–antithrombin (TAT) complexes, fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation product d-dimers, and plasmin-α2–plasmin inhibitor complexes (PIC) were significantly elevated in Group A. All patients that showed TAT complexes, fibrinogen, and PIC levels greater than 4.2 ng/mL, 399 mg/dL, and 1.4 μg/mL, respectively, had active or progressive systemic amyloidosis. All patients with TAT complex levels less than 3.6 ng/mL, fibrinogen levels less than 355 mg/dL, and PIC levels less than 0.9 μg/mL had localized AL amyloidosis. Conclusion:Analyses of TAT complexes, fibrinogen, and PIC can be used to differentiate localized AL amyloidosis from systemic amyloidosis.     

Amyloidosis as a Systemic Disease in Context

The systemic amyloidoses are a group of diseases characterized by the deposition of amyloid, a material formed from misfolding of proteins, in one or more organs. The 2 commonest forms of amyloidosis are transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), derived from wild-type or mutant transthyretin, and light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, derived from abnormal circulating light chains produced by plasma cell dyscrasia. Both frequently involve the heart, producing an infiltrative cardiomyopathy with restrictive pathophysiology. Although advances in echocardiographic, magnetic resonance, and nuclear imaging have rendered diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis easier, diagnosis is still often delayed. This review focuses on noncardiac manifestations of AL and TTR amyloidosis that may aid the cardiologist in making an earlier diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis in a patient with cardiac symptoms (such as periorbital purpura in AL amyloidosis and a history of carpal tunnel syndrome and ruptured biceps tendon in ATTR). It also focuses on the unique challenges that treatment of cardiac amyloidosis poses owing to concomitant noncardiac disease, such as nephrotic syndrome–related edema and hypotension due to autonomic neuropathy, and stresses the importance of a precise typing of amyloidosis and a multidisciplinary approach to therapy.     

Serum amyloid A protein and C-reactive protein in systemic amyloidosis

In 106 patients with systemic amyloidosis (56 primary, 27 secondary, and 23 familial), serum amyloid A protein (SAA) was measured by solid-phase radioimmunoassay and C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by rate nephelometry. SAA and CRP concentrations were highly correlated (r = 0.75, P less than 0.001) throughout the normal and abnormal concentration ranges. In systemic amyloidosis, SAA was more sensitive than CRP as an indicator of the acute-phase response, particularly in secondary amyloidosis. Acute-phase proteins are only occasionally increased during the course of familial amyloidosis. The overlap of acute-phase protein levels does not permit reliable separation of primary amyloidosis from secondary amyloidosis solely on the basis of such studies despite the significantly higher SAA and CRP levels in the latter.     

The Incidence and Prevalence of Cardiac Amyloidosis in a Large Community-Based Cohort in Alberta,Canada

BackgroundDespite the improved awareness of cardiac amyloidosis among clinicians, its incidence and prevalence is not well-described in a community setting. We sought to investigate the incidence and prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis in the community.Methods and ResultsIn the adult population of Alberta, we examined 3 cohorts: (1) probable cases of cardiac amyloidosis: the presence of physician-assigned diagnosis of amyloidosis (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-10 code E85; ICD-9 277.3) and 1 or more health care encounter for heart failure (HF) (ICD-10 I50; ICD-9 428); (2) possible cardiac amyloidosis: the presence of clinical phenotypes suggestive of amyloidosis; and (3) a comparator HF cohort without amyloidosis. Between 2004 and 2018, 982 of the 145,329 patients with HF were identified as probable cardiac amyloidosis. During the same period, the incidence rates of probable cardiac amyloidosis increased from 1.38 to 3.69 per 100,000 person-years and the prevalence rates increased from 3.42 to 14.85 per 100,000 person-years (P_trend < .0001). Patients with probable cardiac amyloidosis were more likely to be male, have a higher comorbidity burden, greater health care use, and poorer outcomes as compared with patients with HF without amyloidosis. A much larger group of patients was identified as possible cardiac amyloidosis (n = 46,255), with similar increase in prevalence from 2004 to 2018 (from 416 to 850 per 100,000 person-years).ConclusionsThe incidence and prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis has increased over the last decade. Given the advent of new therapies for cardiac amyloidosis and considering their high cost, it is imperative to devise strategies to screen, identify, and track patients with cardiac amyloidosis from administrative databases.     

Identification of prognostic markers in transthyretin and AL cardiac amyloidosis*

Abstract

Background: The prognosis of amyloidosis is known to depend heavily on cardiac function and may be improved by identifying patients at highest risk for adverse cardiac events.

Aims: Identify predictors of mortality in patients with cardiac light-chain amyloidosis (AL), hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (m-TTR), or wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (WT-TTR) to prompt physician to refer these patients to dedicated centers.

Methods and results: Observational study. About 266 patients referred for suspected cardiac amyloidosis (CA) in two French university centers were included. About 198 patients had CA (AL?=?118, m-TTR?=?57, and WT-TTR?=?23). Their median (25th–75th percentile) age, NT-proBNP left ventricular ejection fraction were, respectively, 68 years (59–76), 2339?pg mL^?1 (424–5974), and 60% (48–66). About 31% were in NYHA class III–IV. Interventricular septal thickness was greater in the m-TTR and WT-TTR groups than in the AL group (p?<?0.0001). Median follow-up in survivor was 26 months (15–44) and 87 (44%) patients died. By multivariate analysis, independent predictors of mortality for AL amyloidosis were the following: age, cardiac output and NT-proBNP; for TTR amyloidosis was: NT-proBNP. When all amyloidosis were combined NT-proBNP, low cardiac output and pericardial effusion were independently associated with mortality.

Conclusion: NT-proBNP is a strong prognosticator in the three types of cardiac amyloidosis. High NT-proBNP, low cardiac output, and pericardial effusion at the time of screening should prompt physician to refer the patients to amyloidosis referral center.     

Lower respiratory tract amyloidosis: Presentation,survival and prognostic factors. A multicenter consecutive case series

Lower-respiratory-tract (LRT) amyloidosis has rarely been investigated. Our study presents characteristics, outcomes and survival of LRT amyloidosis. This multicenter retrospective study, from 1995 to 2017, included 73 patients with amyloidosis and LRT involvement. Respiratory patterns were: tracheobronchial (n = 17), nodular (n = 10), interstitial (n = 14) or composite (several respiratory involvements, n = 32). Interstitial and composite patterns were associated with multi-organ amyloidosis (n = 37, 80%) while tracheobronchial and nodular patterns were associated with organ-limited amyloidosis (n = 21, 78%). Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis was diagnosed in 43 patients (59%), mainly of lambda type (n = 33, 77%). Smokers’ proportion was higher in tracheobronchial (71%) and nodular (90%) patterns than in interstitial (14%) and composite (34%) patterns. The B-cell neoplasms involved 15 patients (21%), solid neoplasms 8 (11%), connective tissue diseases 8 (11%) and multiple myeloma 6 (8%). The B-cell and solid neoplasms were most prevalent in nodular pattern. Median follow-up was 4.4 years (2.2-8.9). Twenty-four patients died, mostly from respiratory infection. Survival at 1, 5, 10 years was respectively 88%, 70% and 54% for multi-organ amyloidosis, 96%, 89% and 69% for organ-limited amyloidosis (P = .125). Tracheobronchial and nodular patterns survival was better than in other respiratory patterns (P = .039). Death risk factors (multivariate analysis) were: cardiac localization (hazard-ratio [HR] 4.3 [95% confidence interval 1.6-11.5]; P = .004), age (HR 2.1 [1.2-3.7]; P = .008) and dyspnea at diagnosis (HR 4.0 [1.3-12.3]; P = .014). Various LRT amyloidosis patterns depend on smoking habits, organ-limited or multi-organ extension and comorbidities. They are associated with a different survival, which is also predicted by age, cardiac localization and dyspnea at presentation.     

FK506 inhibits murine AA amyloidosis: possible involvement of T cells in amyloidogenesis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the possibility that T cells represent a potential target for therapy in AA amyloidosis. METHODS: AA amyloidosis was induced in C3H/HeN mice by concomitant administration of AgNO3 and amyloid-enhancing factor (AEF). Mice injected with AgNO3 and AEF received intraperitoneal injections of FK506 (2-200 microg/day). The degree of splenic amyloid deposition was determined by Congo red staining. Serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-a concentrations were measured by ELISA. AA amyloidosis was also induced in ICR mice by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) and Mycobacterium butyricum without AEF. ICR mice injected with FCA and M. butyricum also received intraperitoneal injections of FK506 (200 microg/day) to eliminate the possibility that FK506 action might depend upon AEF activity in the amyloid formation. Amyloid deposition was also induced with and without AEF in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice and nude mice to clarify the role of T cells in the mechanism of amyloid formation in AA amyloidosis. RESULTS: FK506 treatment significantly reduced the amount of amyloid deposition and incidence of amyloidosis without reducing serum SAA and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the murine AA amyloidosis models with and without AEF. SCID mice and nude mice showed resistance to development of AA amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: Our findings may provide a new therapeutic strategy for amyloidosis. The results suggested that T cells may play an important role in the mechanism of amyloid formation in AA amyloidosis.     

A comparison of clinical findings of familial Mediterranean fever patients with and without amyloidosis

Objective This study investigates the clinical and demographic characteristics of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients with and without amyloidosis.Patients and methods The clinical data of 503 patients with FMF (females:males 250:253) were reviewed. Fifty of these patients had amyloidosis (f:m 23:27).Results The ages of attack onset in patients with and without amyloidosis were 7.8±6.2 and 11.1±8.5, respectively (P<0.05). The time between disease onset and diagnosis was longer in patients with amyloidosis than those without (187.6±99.4 months and 132.5±110.2 months, respectively, P<0.001). More patients in the amyloidosis group had positive family histories of FMF (68% vs 54%, P<0.05). The frequencies of chest pain (78% vs 51%, P<0.001), arthritis ( 80% vs 60%, P<0.01), and erysipelas-like erythema (44% vs 16%, P<0.001) were higher in the amyloidosis group.Conclusion In the amyloidosis group, FMF-related manifestations of chest pain, arthritis, and erysipelas-like erythema are more frequent. Our results also support that long periods between disease onset and diagnosis are associated with a high risk of developing amyloidosis.     

心脏淀粉样变的临床表现及诊断回顾分析

目的　探讨心脏淀粉样变患者临床表现、诊断和预后。方法　回顾分析本院 1985～1997年确诊原发性淀粉样变心脏受累 32例患者的临床特征、心电图和超声心动图检查以及患者的预后。结果　原发性淀粉样变心脏受累患者共 13例 (40 6 % ) ,心脏淀粉样变患者临床以充血性心力衰竭 (6 9 2 % )和心律失常 (6 9 2 % )最为常见 ,心电图QRS低电压亦常见 (6 9 2 % ) ;超声检查左心室室壁厚度增厚 [平均 (12 5± 3 8)mm];短期随访 6例死亡 [平均病程 (10 7± 11 9)个月 ]。结论　原发性淀粉样变常累及心脏 ,心脏淀粉样变患者临床表现多样 ,以充血性心力衰竭和心律失常最为常见 ,心电图和超声心动图检查有助于心脏淀粉样变的诊断。     

Increased soluble FAS suggests delayed apoptosis in familial Mediterranean fever complicated with amyloidosis

OBJECTIVE: Interactions of the FAS with FAS ligand have been proposed as a major regulatory mechanism of immune homeostasis. Soluble FAS (sFAS) acts as a competitive antagonist to FAS, thereby inhibiting FAS mediated apoptosis. sFAS concentrations have been studied in various autoimmune diseases, with controversial results. In this cross sectional study, we investigated the role of sFAS protein in attack-free patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) with and without amyloidosis. METHODS: Twelve FMF patients without amyloidosis (male/female: 7/5; median age 23.5 yrs, range 17-38), 10 FMF patients with amyloidosis (male/female: 5/5; median age 41.5 yrs, range 33-51), and 14 controls (male/female: 6/8; median age 46 yrs, range 38-57) were enrolled in the study. Serum sFAS concentrations were studied by ELISA. RESULTS: Median serum sFAS concentrations were 4630 (2580-12,270), 1338 (453-3240), and 3430 (2110-5960) pg/ml in FMF patients without amyloidosis, FMF patients with amyloidosis, and controls, respectively. Intergroup differences were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elevated serum sFAS concentrations in attack-free FMF patients might be due to dysregulated apoptosis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes together with the ongoing subclinical inflammatory activity. On the other hand, decreased sFAS concentrations could contribute to the augmented apoptosis together with the alterations in immune response leading to the amyloidosis.     

Rôle de l'imagerie cardiaque dans les cardiomyopathies infiltratives: Quels examens d'imagerie demander devant une hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche ?

Infiltrative cardiomyopathies are abnormal accumulations or depositions of different substances in cardiac tissue leading to its dysfunction, first diastolic, then systolic. The different infiltrative cardiomyopathies are amyloidosis (both light chain amyloidosis and transthyretin amyloidosis variants), lysosomal and glycogen storage disorders (Fabry-Anderson disease), and iron overload (hemochromatosis and thalassemia associated with blood transfusions), as well as inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis. We also evoke hypereosinophilic syndrome associated with endomyocardial fibrosis. Echocardiography is the first essential step after interrogatory and clinical examination and may help the cardiologist as a screening tool. Cardiac MRI is the second fundamental step towards the diagnosis especially due to the late gadolinium enhancement and to the T1-mapping. Cardiac amyloidosis diagnosis also requires the use of nuclear imaging. Cardiac CT-Scan may be useful for estimating the amyloid load, identify potential cardiac thrombus and rule out associated coronaropathy.