Atrial cardiomyopathy in cardiac amyloidosis: clinical imaging and manifestations.

Cardiac amyloidosis is a progressive infiltrative disease and an important cause of atrial arrhythmias, stroke and heart failure. Abnormal amyloid fibril deposition throughout the heart leads to a host of clinical manifestations and complications. Although atrial abnormalities are typically regarded as a consequence of ventricular diastolic dysfunction or atrial arrhythmias, there is emerging evidence that primary defects of atrial structure and function may be present. An atrial cardiomyopathy may be a sign of early cardiac disease, and an unrecognised independent marker of worse prognosis.This review summarizes current evidence specifically for atrial cardiomyopathy in cardiac amyloidosis, with a focus on imaging and clinical outcomes.