Preclinical diagnosis of wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy in a patient undergoing carpal tunnel release.

Wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt-CM) has received increased attention because of its novel treatment options. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is known as early symptoms in transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) preceding cardiac involvement and one of the "red flags" for ATTR-CM. A 64-year-old man underwent carpal tunnel release for carpal tunnel syndrome at 62 years. He was diagnosed with wild-type ATTR due to deposition of transthyretin (TTR) amyloid in flexor tenosynovium specimens and no TTR gene mutation. Examination for detection of cardiac involvement was performed after the operation, and there were no definitive findings of ATTR-CM; however, an early stage of ATTR-CM remained a possibility. Serial image evaluation and biomarker analysis revealed positive findings for ATTR-CM, and we performed an endomyocardial biopsy, resulting in the detection of amyloid deposition. He was diagnosed with ATTRwt-CM 2 years after the operation, and even then, he had no heart failure symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for the improvement of clinical outcomes in patients with ATTRwt-CM. TTR deposition in the ligaments or tendons is often observed in patients with CTS and should be considered at high risk of future ATTR-CM. Serial follow-up of these patients may enable the diagnosis of preclinical ATTR-CM. .