Cardiac Amyloidosis Screening at Trigger Finger Release

A prospective study in 2001 showed that 23% (n = 47) of biopsies for idiopathic trigger finger were positive for Congo red staining but negative for ATTR and AL amyloid via immunohistochemistry. However, mass spectrometry is now the preferred method to type amyloid tissue. Trigger finger pathology involves the same flexor tenosynovium that passes through the carpal tunnel and has been biopsied to diagnose amyloidosis. Our recent study found that 10% of older patients undergoing carpal tunnel release surgery were positive for amyloidosis, with 20% of that group presenting with cardiac involvement. 60% of the amyloid-positive group had a history of trigger finger. Surgical intervention for trigger finger could provide an opportunity to screen for amyloidosis through tenosynovial biopsy.

This study will look at the prevalence of amyloidosis in patients undergoing surgical intervention for idiopathic trigger finger. The study hypothesis is at least 10% of such patients will be positive for amyloidosis.