14. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: An Unexpected Connection to Heart Disease
Carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that causes pain, numbness, and weakness in the hand and wrist, has been linked to cardiac amyloidosis. Amyloid deposits in the wrist’s connective tissues can cause nerve compression, leading to carpal tunnel symptoms.
One study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that patients with CTS were more likely to have cardiac amyloidosis than those without CTS. The study included 107 patients with CTS and 107 controls, and found that 26% of patients with CTS had cardiac amyloidosis, compared to only 7% of controls. The study also found that patients with CTS and cardiac amyloidosis had more severe CTS symptoms than those without cardiac amyloidosis.
Another study published in the Journal of Neurology found that patients with CTS and cardiac amyloidosis had a worse prognosis than those with CTS alone. The study included 46 patients with CTS, 17 of whom also had cardiac amyloidosis. The study found that patients with CTS and cardiac amyloidosis had more severe CTS symptoms and a higher risk of developing complications such as nerve damage and muscle weakness.
The exact mechanism by which CTS and cardiac amyloidosis are related is not yet clear. However, it is thought that the abnormal proteins that build up in cardiac amyloidosis may also accumulate in other tissues, including the wrist, leading to nerve compression and CTS.
While carpal tunnel syndrome can have various causes, it’s essential to consider cardiac amyloidosis if it occurs alongside other symptoms on this list or if it is resistant to traditional treatments. (14)
