Which type of cardiomyopathy is associated with amyloidosis?

The type of cardiomyopathy associated with amyloidosis is infiltrative cardiomyopathy. Infiltrative cardiomyopathy occurs when abnormal substances, such as amyloid proteins, accumulate in the heart tissue. This accumulation disrupts normal heart function and can lead to heart failure and other cardiac complications.

Amyloidosis specifically refers to the buildup of amyloid, which can originate from various underlying conditions, including primary amyloidosis (AL) and secondary amyloidosis (AA). This buildup results in stiffening of the heart muscle and impaired ventricular filling, characteristic of restrictive cardiomyopathy. However, the term "infiltrative" describes the process by which these abnormal proteins infiltrate the myocardial tissue, leading to the symptoms observed in patients diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis.

Recognizing this distinction is crucial for understanding how amyloidosis impacts heart function and the clinical approach to diagnosing and managing patients with this condition.