[Senile amyloidosis of the heart].

A morphologic study of 376 hearts from individuals who died between 75 and 98 years of age demonstrated senile amyloidosis of the heart in 307 (82%) of the cases, using the Congo red stains for polarized light studies and the thiosine red for luminescent microscopy. The frequency of cardiac amyloidosis detection increased with age, and reached 100% in those above 90. Clinico-anatomical correlations showed repolarization changes to be the most common findings (80%), followed by arrhythmia (over 50%), conductivity disorders and reduced voltage of electrocardiographic waves. Chronic heart failure was less common (about 10%). In most cases, moderately marked coronary atherosclerosis was also found at autopsy. Amyloidosis was thought to be making a more significant contribution towards myocardial lesions, as compared to atherosclerosis, in elderly people above 85 years of age.