CARDIAC REPERCUSSION OF AMYLOIDOSIS AND H EMOCHROMATOSIS

Although rare, amyloidosis and hemochromatosis are the infiltrative di seases in which the heart is more frequently involved. The most common clinical presentation is heart failure with hemodynamic features of r estrictive heart disease in cardiac amyloidosis. The diagnosis is ofte n made because of symptoms of other organ involvement, although someti mes cardiac symptoms may be the initial manifestation. The non-specifi c clinical presentation and the low prevalence of these cardiomyopathi es make the diagnosis difficult if the clinician does not suspect it. Once symptoms develop, the evolution is fast. Usually, the unsatisfact ory and ineffective treatment of amyloidosis and hemochromatosis contr ibute to the poor prognosis. The indication of cardiac transplantation in advanced cases is questionable because of the high recurrence of t he illness.