Finding hidden heart disease early can change a patient's life. A specific pattern on a standard heart scan might help doctors spot cardiac amyloidosis, a condition where proteins build up in the heart muscle. This buildup makes the heart stiff and weak, leading to dangerous heart failure.
The researchers looked at data from 4,144 patients. These patients had thickened heart walls, a condition called left ventricular hypertrophy. Some also had severe aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the main heart valve. The team checked if a specific ratio, called the Apical Sparing Ratio, could tell the difference between amyloidosis and other causes of a thick heart.
The scan pattern worked well overall. It correctly identified the disease in about 73% of cases and ruled it out in 77% of others. However, the study found that this method is not perfect. It misses some people who actually have the disease, especially those with severe valve narrowing where the accuracy drops further. The results also varied widely between different studies, suggesting more work is needed before this can be used as a standalone test.