Which condition is characterized by the presence of interstitial deposits in the myocardium?

Amyloidosis is characterized by the presence of abnormal protein deposits known as amyloid in various tissues, including the myocardium. These interstitial deposits disrupt normal heart muscle architecture and function, leading to a range of cardiac symptoms and complications. In the context of the heart, amyloidosis can result in restrictive cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle becomes stiff and less able to fill with blood, ultimately affecting cardiac output.

The presence of interstitial deposits is a key histological feature of amyloidosis, distinguishing it from other conditions. For example, while acute myocardial infarction primarily involves ischemic injury and necrosis of heart tissue, it does not typically lead to interstitial deposits. Similarly, myocardial hypertrophy involves an increase in heart muscle mass but does not primarily result from the deposition of abnormal substances within the interstitium. Coronary artery disease relates to the narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis, which leads to ischemia but is again not characterized by interstitial deposits in the myocardium. Thus, the identification of interstitial amyloid deposits is a hallmark of amyloidosis, making it the correct choice for this question.