Overview
Patients above the age of 60 will be recruited at their carpal tunnel release surgery. Biopsies will be taken from the wrist and examined for the presence of amyloid protein. A amyloid-positive biopsy will refer the patients for cardiac examination including blod- and urine samples examined for transthyretin.
If the result of the cardiac examination is suspected cardiac amyloidosis, the patient will be referred for a diagnostic TC99-DPD scintigraphy. If the scintigraphy is positive, the patient will be referred for right heart catherization (RHC) and an exercise test.
Myocardial biopsies will be taken at the RHC and examined with electron microscopy and high resolution respirometry.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Males above 65 years of age, females above 75 years of age.
- Scheduled idiopathic carpal tunnel release surgery.
- Informed written consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Operation by other indication, e.g.
- Fracture
- Ganglion
- Known amyloidosis