ABSTRACT
A 70-year-old woman with a history of hypertension had been well until 3 years before when she developed atrial fibrillation and subsequently congestive heart failure. The heart failure became worse and she had three fainting spells. Low voltage on electrocardiogram and global hypokinesis on echocardiography were suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis. The patient died suddenly of intractable ventricular fibrillation. Autopsy confirmed heavy infiltration of the myocardium by amyloid.
Subject(s)
Amyloidosis/pathology , Cardiomyopathies/pathology , Aged , Amyloidosis/physiopathology , Cardiomyopathies/physiopathology , Electrocardiography , Female , Humans , Microscopy, Electron , Myocardium/pathology , Myocardium/ultrastructureABSTRACT
A 43-year-old man had a 9-year history of congestive heart failure manifested by an enlarged heart and symptoms of shortness of breath and chest discomfort. Heart failure had been preceded by a "viral illness" and he had been a heavy alcohol user until that time. Autopsy showed congestion and edema characteristic of heart failure and cardiomegaly with biventricular dilatation. Either viral or alcoholic disease, or both, could have been the cause of the cardiac problems.
