MUSChealth.org/heart | 21 MUSC HEALTH HEART & VASCULAR CENTER tissues and organs such as the heart. AL amyloidosis is also called immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis. “Light chain amyloidosis is much more serious,” Dr. Griffin explained. “It can affect any organ in the body. People get sick very quickly, and, when the heart is involved, it can be very severe.” “TTR is a more slowly progressing disease. In fact, one of the co-morbidities is carpal tunnel syndrome,” she added. “Someone who had carpal tunnel 10 years ago could have been experiencing the first manifestation of TTR amyloid deposition.” Dr. Griffin’s work at the MUSC Health Heart & Vascular Center is a welcomed extension to research she did as a fellow in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology – then an assistant professor of medicine – at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, she said. Prior to her work in New York, Dr. Griffin completed a cardiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and her residency in internal medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. RARE CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE A TEAM APPROACH Amyloidosis is a rare condition that results from a buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid. Amyloid can be produced from any one of over 30 proteins. When the amyloid proteins build up in your heart, they cause heart failure. There are several types of amyloidosis, differentiated by which protein causes the deposits. Identifying amyloidosis can be challenging because the symptoms aren’t always specific. Signs include bruising easily, swollen legs and shortness of breath. Your doctor uses a combination of blood tests, imaging studies and sometimes a biopsy – taking a sample of tissue – to diagnose amyloidosis. Cardiac amyloidosis causes heart problems that can lead to heart failure. With amyloidosis, heart failure usually occurs because the heart becomes stiff and cannot pump blood properly (cardiomyopathy). MUSC Health offers South Carolina’s only heart transplant program, which may provide an option for people with some amyloid disorders. We have performed heart transplants for people with inherited TTR amyloidosis and advanced heart failure. MUSC Health doctors are also researching the relationship between amyloid plaques in the heart and on the brain. These types of plaques cause dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease. Sarcoidosis is a complex, multisystem inflammatory disease that can affect any organ in the body. Sarcoidosis is most commonly found in the lungs and lymph nodes but also appears in other organs, including the eyes, kidneys, heart, brain and skin. While there is currently no cure, sarcoidosis is a treatable disease. Additional Resources • MUSC Amyloidosis Support Group - MUSC Health hosts an amyloidosis support group to provide community, connection and education. www.amyloidosissupport.org • My Amyloidosis Pathfinder - The MUSC Amyloidosis Center has teamed up with ARC to simplify patient-provider visits and communication with our amyloidosis team for treatment plans and goals tailored to your needs. www.amyloidosissupport.org/ support_groups/southcarolina.html • Sarcoidosis Support Group – www.amyloidosissupport.org/treatment/southcarolina.html “What I love the most about my job is helping patients feel better. I love seeing a smile on their face after an appointment.”
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