Cardiac amyloidosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Amyloidosis is an uncommon condition characterized by extracellular deposition of insoluble protein fibrils, causing structural and functional disorders and consequently modification of the organic structure of organs; cardiac involvement is frequent in amyloidosis. We describe the case of a 36-year-old man with cardiac amyloidosis associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and who died shortly after the diagnosis was confirmed. The clinical characteristics of the condition and diagnostic investigation are described, and comment is made on the current limitations related to specific management options in clinical practice. The objective of the present report is to enhance the awareness of non-specialists about the diagnosis of this uncommon condition in the primary health care setting.