Amyloidosis and the heart

Abstract

Amyloidosis is a group of infiltrative diseases based on abnormal fibrillogenesis, i.e. the ability of some proteins - amyloid precursors, under certain conditions, to form insoluble thread-like structures - fibrils. Modern classifications of amyloidosis are based on the principle of specificity of the main fibrillogen protein - the amyloid precursor. Systemic forms of amyloidosis mainly include diseases involving blood plasma proteins. Certain types of amyloidosis tend to affect certain target organs. The prognosis of the disease largely depends on which organ is most severely affected. In systemic senile amyloidosis, the cardiovascular system is predominantly affected. Serum amyloid A (AA type) is an acute-phase protein synthesized in the liver. The cardiovascular system is affected relatively rarely in systemic AA amyloidosis, in approximately 0.1-10% of cases.