Cardiac amyloidosis with discordant qrs voltage between frontal and precordial leads

Abstract

Among the different types, immunoglobulin light chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis is associated with the highest morbidity and mortality. The outcome, however, is significantly better when an early diagnosis is made and treatment initiated promptly. We present a case of cardiac amyloidosis with left ventricular hypertrophy criteria on the electrocardiogram. After 9 months of follow-up, the patient developed low voltage in the limb leads, while still maintaining the Cornell criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy as well. The relative apical sparing by the disease process, as well as decreased cancellation of the opposing left ventricular walls could be responsible for this phenomenon. The discordance between the voltage in the frontal leads and precordial leads, when present in conjunction with other findings, may be helpful in raising the clinical suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis.