Skip to main content

Heart Specialties

Symptoms & Causes

Cardiac Amyloidosis

Find a specialist

What is Cardiac Amyloidosis?

What is Cardiac Amyloidosis?

Cardiac amyloidosis is a serious condition that develops when a protein forms deposits called "amyloid” in the heart, affecting its ability to pump blood. This buildup of amyloid deposits in the heart can lead to heart failure.  

Since cardiac amyloidosis can impact heart structure and function, people with cardiac amyloidosis may develop other heart complications, including a stiff heart muscle, arrhythmias, conduction disease, heart valve problems, stroke, and kidney disease. 

Types of cardiac amyloidosis 

Types

There are two main types of cardiac amyloidosis, based on the type of protein involved: 

  • Light chain or AL amyloidosis: The “L” in AL amyloidosis stands for light chain proteins, which are produced by plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells produce an overabundance of light chains, leading to amyloidosis. 
  • Transthyretin amyloidosis or ATTR: TTR refers to a normal protein made by the liver. This protein transports thyroid hormones and vitamin A through the bloodstream. TTR protein can misfold for various reasons, then clump together and cause amyloidosis. ATTR can be classified as “wild type” (associated with aging and most common in men over 60) or hereditary (associated with a genetic mutation). 

Symptoms & causes of amyloidosis 

Symptoms

Cardiac amyloidosis can lead to a range of symptoms in different parts of the body, including: 

  • Irregular heart rhythm 
  • Shortness of breath 
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness 
  • Loss of consciousness 
  • Swelling in the legs 
  • Fatigue for more than a few days 
  • Constipation 
  • Stomach bloating
  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea 
  • Nerve-related symptoms such as numbness and tingling in hands or feet 
  • Abnormal sweating 
  • Kidney dysfunction 
  • Frequent urinary tract infections 
  • Sexual dysfunction 

More to explore

What causes cardiac amyloidosis?

Causes

Cardiac amyloidosis can be passed through genetics, or it can develop from another medical condition, such as blood disease of the plasma cells.

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for cardiac amyloidosis care 

Get Care

cu-amyloid-2026.jpeg

NewYork-Presbyterian, in collaboration with doctors from Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University, is a renowned leader in amyloidosis treatment, and is home to one of the largest cardiac amyloidosis programs in the country. In addition to providing  innovative treatments, our expert doctors lead and offer promising new cardiac therapies through clinical trials.

Patients can also find exceptional cardiac care at convenient NewYork-Presbyterian locations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester.

See here for a list of locations.