Cardiac amyloidosis with overt multiple myeloma presenting with pulmonary effusion: case report

Abstract

Amyloidosis was initially described by Nicolaes Fonteyn in 1639. It is caused by the deposition of soluble immunoglobulin light chains as insoluble fibrils and can affect any organ including the heart, nervous system, dermis and subcutaneous tissue, kidneys and liver. This is a rare case of cardiac amyloidosis occurring with multiple myeloma and pleural effusion. A 65-year-old Arab woman, nonsmoker, nonalcoholic, known to have hypothyroidism and multiple myeloma, presented to the hospital with dyspnea and basilar crackles. Workup was done to exclude leukemia. Cardiac echography showed features of amyloidosis. Cardiac amyloidosis occurring with multiple myeloma and pleural effusion is rare. However, it is stated that 10–15% of amyloidosis patients might develop multiple myeloma (MM).