senile cardiac amyloidosis
Pronunciation: /ˈsinaɪl ˈkɑrdiæk ˌæməlɔɪˈdoʊsɪs/
Age-related deposition of wild-type transthyretin amyloid fibrils in the heart, causing progressive heart failure.
Full Definition
Senile cardiac amyloidosis, also known as wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt), is a progressive infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by the deposition of misfolded wild-type transthyretin protein in cardiac tissue. This condition primarily affects elderly patients, with increasing prevalence after age 60. The amyloid deposits appear as pink, homogeneous material on routine histology and demonstrate characteristic apple-green birefringence under polarized light with Congo red staining. The condition leads to restrictive cardiomyopathy with preserved ejection fraction but impaired diastolic function. Unlike hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, this form does not involve genetic mutations but rather age-related protein misfolding.
Usage
Usage note: Specify 'senile' or 'wild-type' to distinguish from hereditary forms of transthyretin amyloidosis.
In Context
- "Congo red staining revealed extensive senile cardiac amyloidosis with characteristic apple-green birefringence throughout the myocardium." — Autopsy report
- "Mass spectrometry confirmed the diagnosis of senile cardiac amyloidosis by identifying wild-type transthyretin as the deposited protein." — Specialized diagnostic report