FOR APPs & PRIMARY CARE CLINICIANS
Cardiomyopathy & cardiac amyloidosis — Quick reference
First steps, urgent findings, referral guidance, and handoff essentials.
First steps
Define the phenotype, symptoms, echo/EKG, exposures, and family history. For suspected amyloid, understand the monoclonal screen before tracer interpretation.
Recognize the urgent patient
Unstable HF/arrhythmia or concerning syncope needs urgent care; suspected AL warrants prompt hematology/amyloid-team evaluation.
When to refer
Unexplained myocardial disease needs cardiology; inherited disease/HCM and amyloid benefit from experienced multidisciplinary teams.
What to send with the referral
Echo/CMR; EKG; family history; biomarkers; serum free light chains and serum/urine immunofixation when obtained; current therapy.
Avoid this pitfall
Apical sparing alone does not diagnose amyloid. Positive PYP with a monoclonal protein cannot simply be called ATTR.
Reviewed October 11, 2026. This quick reference summarizes the linked guide; use the full guide for context and clinical references.