A fatal case of constrictive pericarditis due to a marked, selective pericardial accumulation of amyloid

Constrictive Pericarditis Revealing Rare Case of ALH Amyloidosis With Underlying Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia)

We present a case of pericardial amyloidosis with associated lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in a patient with chronic worsening shortness of breath and cough. This case highlights the wide variation in the presentation of cardiac amyloidosis, and the rare occurrence of clinically significant light-chain and heavy-chain amyloidosis in the pericardium. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)

Immunoglobulin Light-Chain Amyloidosis: From Basics to New Developments in Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapy

Immunoglobulin amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis, where the culprit amyloidogenic protein is immunoglobulin light chains produced by marrow clonal plasma cells. AL amyloidosis is an infrequent disease, and since presentation is variable and often nonspecific, diagnosis is often delayed. This results in cumulative organ damage and has a negative prognostic effect. AL amyloidosis can also be challenging on the diagnostic level, especially when demonstration of Congo red-positive tissue is not readily obtained. Since as many as 31 known amyloidogenic proteins have been identified to date, determination of the amyloid type is required. While several typing methods are available, mass spectrometry has become the gold standard for amyloid typing. Upon confirming the diagnosis of amyloidosis, a pursuit for organ involvement is essential, with a focus on heart involvement, even in the absence of suggestive symptoms for involvement, as this has both prognostic and treatment implications. Details regarding initial treatment options, including stem cell transplantation, are provided in this review. AL amyloidosis management requires a multidisciplinary approach with careful patient monitoring, as organ impairment has a major effect on morbidity and treatment tolerability until a response to treatment is achieved and recovery emerges.

Primary systemic amyloidosis presenting as constrictive pericarditis

The most frequent presentation of cardiac amyloidosis is with endomyocardial deposition, and resultant restrictive cardiomyopathy. We present a case of primary systemic amyloidosis causing constrictive pericarditis (CP) and congestive heart failure without clinical evidence of endomyocardial deposition. A comprehensive evaluation by noninvasive and invasive studies facilitated the differentiation of CP from restrictive cardiomyopathy and the patient was effectively treated with pericardectomy. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of primary systemic amyloidosis causing selective CP with successful antemortem diagnosis and treatment in a young man.

Amyloid in the cardiovascular system: a review

The cardiovascular system is a common target of amyloidosis. This review presents the current clinical and diagnostic approach to amyloidosis, with the emphasis on cardiovascular involvement. It summarises recent nomenclature, classification, and pathogenesis of amyloidosis. In addition, non-invasive possibilities are discussed, together with endomyocardial biopsies in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis. Finally, recent advances in treatment and prognostic implications are presented.

Circulatory shock

Patients with malignancy may present with acute circulatory compromise requiring ICU monitoring and care. The clinician must be familiar with a multiplicity of acute and chronic medical conditions common to the general population and also with conditions directly related to cancer or therapy thereof.

Differentiation between restrictive cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis by early diastolic doppler myocardial velocity gradient at the posterior wall

BACKGROUND

The differential diagnosis between restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) and constrictive pericarditis (CP) is challenging and, despite combined information from different diagnostic tests, surgical exploration is often necessary.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A group of 55 subjects (mean age, 63+/-11 years; 36 men and 19 women) were enrolled in the study; 15 had RCM, 10 had CP, and 30 were age-matched, normal controls. The diagnosis of RCM was supported by a biopsy; in the CP group, the diagnosis was confirmed either surgically or at autopsy. All patients underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram that included the assessment of Doppler myocardial velocity gradient (MVG), as measured from the left ventricular posterior wall during the predetermined phases of the cardiac cycle. MVG was lower (P<0.01) in RCM patients compared with both CP patients and normal controls during ventricular ejection (2. 8+/-1.2 versus 4.4+/-1.0 and 4.7+/-0.8 s(-1), respectively) and rapid ventricular filling (1.9+/-0.8 versus 8.7+/-1.7 and 3.7+/-1.4 s(-1), respectively). Additionally, during isovolumic relaxation, MVG was positive in RCM patients and negative in both CP patients and normal controls (0.7+/-0.4 versus -1.0+/-0.6 and -0.4+/-0.3 s(-1), respectively; P<0.01). During atrial contraction, MVG was similarly low (P<0.01) in both RCM and CP patients compared with normal controls (1.6+/-1.7 and 1.7+/-1.8 versus 3.8+/-0.9 s(-1), respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Doppler myocardial imaging-derived MVG, as measured from the left ventricular posterior wall in early diastole during both isovolumic relaxation and rapid ventricular filling, allows for the discrimination of RCM from CP.

Constrictive pericarditis

The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis remains a challenge because its physical findings and hemodynamics mimic restrictive cardiomyopathy. Various diagnostic advances over the years enable us to differentiate between these two conditions. This review begins with a case report of constrictive pericarditis, followed by a brief history and discussions of etiologies. Clinical features, radiologic, electrocardiographic, angiographic findings, and hemodynamics of constrictive pericarditis are reviewed. The echocardiographic findings are detailed and the recent advances in Doppler flow velocity patterns of pulmonary, mitral, tricuspid valves and hepatic veins are reported. Nuclear ventriculograms depict rapid ventricular filling in constrictive pericarditis and differentiate it from restrictive cardiomyopathy. Endomyocardial biopsy helps further in recognizing the various types of restrictive cardiomyopathies. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging delineate abnormal pericardial thickness in constrictive pericarditis. Association of characteristic hemodynamic changes and abnormal pericardial thickness > 3 mm usually confirms the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. Effusive and occult varieties of constrictive pericarditis are briefly described. This review concludes with emphasizing the importance of pericardial resection.

Constrictive pericarditis: its history and current status

The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis remains a challenge because it is often mimicked by restrictive cardiomyopathy. The last few years have seen numerous advances in our ability to differentiate between these two conditions which often have similar physical findings and hemodynamics. This review begins with a brief history of constrictive pericarditis; this is followed by an extensive discussion of newer etiologies, and then the classical clinical history and physical examination findings are described. Radiologic, electrocardiographic, and angiographic findings are discussed. The hemodynamics of constrictive pericarditis are reviewed. Recent results of echocardiographic and echo-Doppler investigations are presented. Emphasis is placed upon the limitations of M-mode echocardiography in the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. The value of echocardiographic Doppler studies of mitral and tricuspid flow velocity patterns, as well as of those in the pulmonary veins and hepatic veins, is described. Nuclear ventriculograms and angiocardiograms tend to show more rapid ventricular filling in constrictive pericarditis than in restrictive cardiomyopathy. Although only a small number of patients has been studied, these evaluations seem to have merit in separating restrictive cardiomyopathy from constrictive pericarditis. The role of computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging studies of pericardial thickness in confirming the presence of constrictive pericarditis is discussed. Abnormal pericardial thickening (> 3 mm) confirms the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, but only if the characteristic hemodynamic pattern is present. The usefulness of endomyocardial biopsy in recognizing specific varieties of restrictive cardiomyopathy is presented.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Cardiac amyloidosis. General review]

Cardiac amyloidosis, most often of AL type, is a non-exceptional disease as it represents 5 to 10% of non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. It realizes typically a restrictive cardiomyopathy. Nevertheless the wide diversity of possible presentation makes it a "big shammer" which must be evoked in front of every unexplained cardiopathy after the age of forty. If some associated manifestations can rapidly suggest the diagnosis, as a peripheric neuropathy especially a carpal tunnel syndrome or palpebral ecchymosis, cardiac involvement can also evolve in an apparently isolated way. The most suggestive paraclinic elements for the diagnosis are, in one hand, the increased myocardial echogenicity with a "granular sparkling" appearance seen throughout all walls of the left ventricle and, in the other hand, the association of a thickened left ventricle and a low voltage (electrocardiogram could also show pseudo-infarct Q waves). In front of such aspects, the proof of amyloidosis is brought by an extra-cardiac biopsy or by scintigraphy with labelled serum amyloid P component, so that the indications of endomyocardial biopsy are very limited today. The identification of the amyloid nature of a cardiopathy has an direct therapeutic implication: it contra-indicates the use of digitalis, calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers. The treatment of AL amyloidosis (chemotherapy with alkylant agents) remains very unsatisfactory especially in the cardiac involvement which is the most frequent cause of death (in AL amyloidosis). Last, cardiac amyloidosis is a bad indication for transplantation which results are burden by rapid progression of deposits especially in the gastro-intestinal tract and the nervous system.