Retrospective evaluation of demographic and cardiac parameters in patients with primary amyloidosis

Objective: Cardiac amyloloidosis is an infiltrative disease caused by amyloid fibrils accumulating in the heart. The most severe type in terms of clinical and prognosis is related to AL amyloidosis. Although early diagnosis is highly crucial, noninvasive diagnostic methods have been developed today. The aim of our study is to investigate the parameters that will help in screening and diagnosis. Material and method: Thirty-five patients (20 female and 15 male, mean age 60.71±10.62 years) diagnosed with pathological and/or radiological cardiac AL amyloidosis were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, laboratory, 12-lead electrocardiography (QTc, TpTe V1-V6) and transthoracic echocardiography (EF, IVSd, LVDSc, LVSSc) data of the patients were analyzed. QTc and TpTe durations were calculated by two different experienced doctors using the Cardio Calipers v3.3 application. Results: Statistically significantly prolonged QTc and TpTeV2-V6 parameters were observed in the AL Amyloidosis group (p<0.05). In our study, a positive, statistically significant correlation was found between the QTc values measured in the subjects and the TpTeV3, TpTeV4, TpTeV5 and TpTeV6 parameters; again, a positive, statistically significant correlation was found between IVSd value and TpTeV2, TpTeV3, TpTeV4 and TpTeV5 parameters. Conclusion: For the first time; we present strong evidence of increased Tp- Te intervals in patients with cardiac AL amyloidosis. This suggests a relationship between cardiac morbidity and ventricular arrhythmias. Keywords: AL Amyloidosis, Tp-Te interval, ventricular arrhythmia