Brain embolic infarction associated with cardiac amyloidosis in a patient with multiple myeloma: a bone marrow-heart-brain crosstalk

Abstract

Cardiac amyloidosis is characterized by the extracellular fibril deposition of amyloid protein in the myocardium. Cerebral embolism caused by cardiac amyloidosis is rare. We report a case of 59-year-old woman with multiple myeloma who developed cerebral infarction probably related to cardiac involvement of amyloidosis, and discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms based on kidney biopsy and characteristic echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging features.

Keywords

• Amyloidosis
• Cardiomyopathies
• Cerebral infarction
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Multiple myeloma