An Unusual Case of Heart Failure: Sometimes When You Hear Hoof Beats You Should Think of Zebras

This case describes a 74-year-old male who was hospitalized with hyponatremia and worsening systolic and new diastolic heart failure. Workup showed low voltage QRS complexes on electrocardiogram and new diastolic dysfunction on echocardiogram. Because of this clinical scenario amyloidosis was suspected. ATTR amyloidosis was confirmed without doing an invasive endocardial biopsy by the use of immunofixation studies and Technetium 99 PYPm scan, and abdominal fat pad biopsy. The types and manifestations of amyloidosis in general and cardiac amyloidosis, in particular, are reviewed as well as the diagnostic test available to the clinician to confirm this diagnosis.

Patients with cardiac amyloidosis have a greater neurohormonal activation than those with non-amyloidotic heart failure

BACKGROUND

Neurohormonal activation has never been investigated in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA).

METHODS

Forty-seven patients with amyloid light-chain (AL)-CA and 61 with transthyretin (ATTR)-CA were matched to non-amyloidotic heart failure (HF) patients based on age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction ranges, renal function and HF therapies. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), norepinephrine and renin were dosed. The primary and secondary endpoints were 1-year cardiovascular death or HF hospitalisation, and 5-year cardiovascular death, respectively.

RESULTS

Patients with AL-CA had a 10-fold higher NT-proBNP than HF patients (6548 ng/L [2059-15,097] vs. 692 [243-2241], p < 0.001), and slightly higher norepinephrine (595 ng/L [383-869] vs. 416 [250-693], p = 0.047). Patients with ATTR-CA had higher NT-proBNP (3984 ng/L [2275-9505] vs. 1751 [470-4768], p = 0.006), norepinephrine (552 ng/L [344-855] vs. 441 [323-601], p = 0.020), and renin (14 mU/L [8-80] vs. 10 [4-34], p = 0.017). Patients with AL- or ATTR-CA had more often 2 or 3 neurohormones above the corresponding upper reference limits than matched HF patients. NT-proBNP and aldosterone were univariate predictors of the primary endpoint in patients with ATTR-CA, but not in matched controls. NT-proBNP and renin predicted the secondary endpoint in patients with AL-CA, but not in matched controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CA display a neurohormonal activation, with some prognostic significance.

A quick glance at selected topics in this issue

"A quick glance at selected topics in this issue" aims to highlight contents of the Journal and provide a quick review to the readers.

Assessing Cardiac Amyloidosis Subtypes by Unsupervised Phenotype Clustering Analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a set of amyloid diseases with usually predominant cardiac symptoms, including light-chain amyloidosis (AL), hereditary variant transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv), and wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt). CA are characterized by high heterogeneity in phenotypes leading to diagnosis delay and worsened outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

The authors used clustering analysis to identify typical clinical profiles in a large population of patients with suspected CA.

METHODS

Data were collected from the French Referral Center for Cardiac Amyloidosis database (Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil), including 1,394 patients with suspected CA between 2010 and 2018: 345 (25%) had a diagnosis of AL, 263 (19%) ATTRv, 402 (29%) ATTRwt, and 384 (28%) no amyloidosis. Based on comprehensive clinicobiological phenotyping, unsupervised clustering analyses were performed by artificial neural network-based self-organizing maps to identify patient profiles (clusters) with similar characteristics, independent of the final diagnosis and prognosis.

RESULTS

Mean age and left ventricular ejection fraction were 72 ± 13 years and 52% ± 13%, respectively. The authors identified 7 clusters of patients with contrasting profiles and prognosis. AL patients were distinctively located within a typical cluster; ATTRv patients were distributed across 4 clusters with varying clinical presentations, 1 of which overlapped with patients without amyloidosis; interestingly, ATTRwt patients spread across 3 distinct clusters with contrasting risk factors, biological profiles, and prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Clustering analysis identified 7 clinical profiles with varying characteristics, prognosis, and associations with diagnosis. Especially in patients with ATTRwt, these results suggest key areas to improve amyloidosis diagnosis and stratify prognosis depending on associated risk factors.

Double Delayed Enhancement: Concomitant Cardiac Amyloidosis and Acute Coronary Embolism

Hereditary cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a relatively rare cause of nonischemic cardiomyopathy. The risk of intracardiac thrombi increases significantly in patients with CA. We report a case of a patient presenting with chest pain and acute myocardial infarction who was subsequently diagnosed with concomitant CA and acute coronary embolism.

Right Ventricular Endocardial Mapping and a Potential Arrhythmogenic Substrate in Cardiac Amyloidosis-Role of ICD

Patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. (SCD). However, the role of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in the primary prevention of SCD in this group of patients is still controversial. We present a case with CA with recurrent syncope and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. In order to further stratify the risk of SCD, an electrophysiological study with endocardial electroanatomic voltage mapping was performed prior to the ICD placement.

Two Decades of Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Danish Nationwide Study

Background

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has been associated with poor outcomes. Screening studies suggest that CA is overlooked-especially in the elderly. Recent advances in treatment have brought attention to the disease, but data on temporal changes in CA epidemiology are sparse.

Objectives

The aim of this work was to describe all patients with CA in Denmark, examining changes in patient characteristics from 1998 to 2017.

Methods

All patients with any form of amyloidosis diagnosed from 1998 to 2017, as well as their comorbidities and pharmacotherapy, were identified in Danish nationwide registries. CA was defined as any diagnosis code for amyloidosis combined with a diagnosis code for heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or atrial fibrillation or a procedural code for pacemaker implantation, regardless of the order. The index date was defined as the date of meeting those criteria. Patients were divided into 5-year periods by index date. For comparison, we also included control subjects (1:4 ratio) from the general population.

Results

CA criteria were met by 619 patients. Comparing 1998-2002 vs 2013-2017, the median age at baseline increased from 67.4 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 53.9-75.2 years) to 72.3 years (IQR: 66.0-79.3 years). The frequency of male patients increased from 62.1% to 66.2%. The incidence of CA rose from 0.88 to 3.56 per 100,000 person-years in the Danish population aged ≥65 years, and the 2-year mortality decreased from 82.6% (IQR: 69.9%-90.5%) to 50.2% (IQR: 43.1%-56.9%). Compared with control subjects, the mortality among CA patients was significantly higher (log-rank test: P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

CA, as defined in this study, was increasingly diagnosed on a national scale. The increasing frequency of male patients and median age suggest that wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis is driving this increase. Greater recognition of earlier, less advanced cases might explain decreasing mortality.

Electrophysiological Manifestations of Cardiac Amyloidosis: JACC: CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by the extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils in the myocardium. Although cardiac amyloidosis patients primarily present with heart failure symptoms, arrhythmias and conduction system disease are frequently encountered. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is observed in up to 70% of patients at the time of diagnosis, and patients typically have controlled ventricular rates caused by concomitant conduction system disease. Thromboembolic risk is particularly high in patients with CA and AF, and left atrial thrombi have been observed even in the absence of clinically diagnosed AF. Atrioventricular nodal and infra-Hisian disease are common, and permanent pacemakers are frequently required. The use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in this population is controversial. This review summarizes the published data and therapeutic strategies surrounding arrhythmias and conduction system disease with the goal of aiding clinicians managing the clinical complexities of CA.

Diagnostic Work-Up of Cardiac Amyloidosis Using Cardiovascular Imaging: Current Standards and Practical Algorithms

Among non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, cardiac amyloidosis is one of the most common, being caused by extracellular depositions of amyloid fibrils in the myocardium. Two main forms of cardiac amyloidosis are known so far, including 1) light-chain (AL) amyloidosis caused by monoclonal production of light-chains, and 2) transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis, caused by dissociation of the transthyretin tetramer into monomers. Both AL and ATTR amyloidosis are progressive diseases with median survival from diagnosis of less than 6 months and 3 to 5 years, respectively, if untreated. In this regard, death occurs in most patients due to cardiac causes, mainly congestive heart failure, which can be prevented due to the presence of effective, life-saving treatment regimens. Therefore, early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is crucial more than ever. However, diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis may be challenging due to variable clinical manifestations and the perceived rarity of the disease. In this regard, clinical and laboratory reg flags are available, which may help clinicians to raise suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis. In addition, advances in cardiovascular imaging have already revealed a higher prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis in specific populations, so that the diagnosis especially of ATTR amyloidosis has experienced a >30-fold increase during the past ten years. The goal of our review article is to summarize these findings and provide a practical approach for clinicians on how to use cardiovascular imaging techniques, such as echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, bone scintigraphy and, if required, organ biopsy within predefined diagnostic algorithms for the diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis. In addition, two clinical cases and practical tips are provided in this context.

Role of Cardiac Biomarkers in Cancer Patients

Simple Summary

Cardiac biomarkers have proved increasingly useful in the various branches of cardiology, not sparing the field of cardio-oncology. With specific reference to the latter subject, they have been investigated as predictors and/or diagnostic and monitoring tools, as well as prognostic factors, with the purpose of allowing the early prevention of many cardiovascular complications related to the direct action of some cancer types or related to the toxicity of its treatments. However, despite this great potential and excellent cost-effectiveness, their usefulness in some areas still seems to be limited due to lack of sufficient specificity or sensitivity. In fact, in clinical practice, while their use is nowadays standard in some circumstances, evidence does not yet support their routine use in other cases.

Abstract

In patients with cancer—and especially some specific subtypes—the heart can be pathologically affected due to the direct action of the tumor or its secretion products or due to the toxicity of some oncological treatments. Cardiac biomarkers have been investigated as inexpensive and easily accessible tools for prediction, early diagnosis, monitoring, or prognosis of various forms of cancer-related cardiac diseases. However, their clinical usefulness was not always clearly demonstrated in every area of cardioncology. For the identification of anthracycline related cardiotoxicity in the very early stages troponins proved to be more efficient detectors than imaging methods. Nevertheless, the lack of a standardized dosage methodology and of cardiotoxicity specific thresholds, do not yet allow to outline the precise way to employ them in clinical routine and to incorporate them into appropriate diagnostic or managing algorithms. Cardiac biomarkers proved also effective in patients with primary cardiac amyloidosis, in which both troponins and natriuretic peptides were able to predict adverse outcome, and carcinoid heart disease, where a precise diagnostic cut-off for N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was identified to screen patients with valvular involvement. Likewise, NT-proBNP proved to be an excellent predictor of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). On the contrary, evidence is still not sufficient to promote the routine use of cardiac biomarkers to early diagnose myocarditis due to immune check points inhibitors (ICIs), radiotherapy induced cardiotoxicity and cardiac complications related to androgenetic deprivation. In this review we present all the evidence gathered so far regarding the usefulness and limitations of these relatively inexpensive diagnostic tools in the field of cardio-oncology.

Echocardiographic Patterns of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Cardiac Amyloidosis: An Updated Evaluation

Aims: Multimodal imaging has allowed cardiac amyloidosis (CA) to be increasingly recognised as a treatable cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, but its prognosis remains poor due to late diagnosis. To assess the left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) patterns in a large contemporary CA cohort according to the current recommendations and to identify their determinants. Methods and Results: We conducted a monocentric, observational study on a cohort of CA patients from a tertiary CA referral centre. Diastolic function was analysed using standard echocardiography and clinical, laboratory and survival parameters were collected. Four hundred and sixty-four patients with one of the three main type of CA were included: 41% had grade III diastolic dysfunction (restrictive mitral pattern), 25% had grade II diastolic dysfunction, and 25% had grade I diastolic dysfunction; 9% were unclassified. No difference was found between the main CA types. After multivariate analyses, grades II and III were independently associated with dyspnoea, elevated NT-proBNP, cardiac infiltration and systolic dysfunction (global longitudinal strain). Grade I patients had a better prognosis. Conclusions: All LVDF patterns can be observed in CA. One quarter of CA patients have grade I LVDF, reflecting the emergence of earlier stage-related phenotypes with a better prognosis.

Prognostic Value of N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and High-Sensitivity Troponin T Levels in the Natural History of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy and Their Evolution after Tafamidis Treatment

BACKGROUND

We assesse the evolution and prognostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity troponin T (cTnT-HS) in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CA) before and after tafamidis treatment.

METHODS AND RESULTS

454 ATTR-CA patients without tafamidis (Cohort A) and 248 ATTR-CA with tafamidis (Cohort B) were enrolled. Event-free survival (EFS) events were death, heart transplant, or acute heart failure. In Cohort A, 27% of patients maintained NT-proBNP < 3000 ng/L and 14% cTnT-HS < 50 ng/L at 12 months relative to baseline levels. In Cohort B, the proportions were 49% and 29%, respectively. In Cohort A, among the 333 patients without an increased NT-proBNP > 50% relative to baseline EFS was extended compared to the 121 patients with an increased NT-proBNP > 50% (HR: 0.75 [0.57; 0.98]; p = 0.032). In Cohort A, baseline NT-proBNP > 3000 ng/L and cTnT-HS > 50 ng/L and a relative increase of NT-proBNP > 50% during follow-up were independent prognostic factors of EFS. The slopes of logs NT-proBNP and cTnT-HS increased with time before and stabilized after tafamidis.

CONCLUSION

ATTR-CA patients with increasing NT-proBNP had an increased risk of EFS. Tafamidis stabilize NT-proBNP and cTnT-HS increasing, even if initial NT-proBNP levels were >3000 ng/L. Thus suggesting that all patients, irrespective of baseline NT-proBNP levels, may benefit from tafamidis.

Amyloid Deposits and Fibrosis on Left Ventricular Endomyocardial Biopsy Correlate With Extracellular Volume in Cardiac Amyloidosis

Background The relative contribution of amyloid and fibrosis to extracellular volume expansion in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has never been defined. Methods and Results We included all patients diagnosed with amyloid light-chain (AL) or transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis at a tertiary referral center between 2014 to 2020 and undergoing a left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy. Patients (n=37) were more often men (92%), with a median age of 72 years (interquartile range, 68-81). Lambda-positive AL was found in 14 of 19 AL cases (38%) and kappa-positive AL in 5 of 19 (14%), while transthyretin was detected in the other 18 cases (48%). Amyloid deposits accounted for 15% of tissue sample area (10%-30%), without significant differences between AL and transthyretin amyloidosis. All patients displayed myocardial fibrosis, with a median extent of 15% of tissue samples (10%-23%; range, 5%-60%), in the absence of spatial overlap with amyloid deposits. Interstitial fibrosis was often associated with mild and focal subendocardial fibrosis. The extent of fibrosis or the combination of amyloidosis and fibrosis did not differ significantly between transthyretin amyloidosis and AL subgroups. In 20 patients with myocardial T1 mapping at cardiac magnetic resonance, the combined amyloid and fibrosis extent displayed a modest correlation with extracellular volume (r=0.661, P=0.001). The combined amyloid and fibrosis extent correlated with high-sensitivity troponin T (P=0.035) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (P=0.002) serum levels. Conclusions Extracellular spaces in cardiac amyloidosis are enlarged to a similar extent by amyloid deposits and fibrotic tissue. Their combination can better explain the increased extracellular volume at cardiac magnetic resonance and circulating biomarkers than amyloid extent alone.

Conduction abnormalities and role of cardiac pacing in cardiac amyloidosis: A systematic review

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure, characterized by extracellular deposition of insoluble protein fibrils leading to progressive myocardial dysfunction. The most common types of cardiac amyloidosis are immunoglobin light-chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR). Conduction abnormalities are commonly encountered among patients with cardiac amyloidosis and are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Abnormalities range from infra-Hisian intraventricular conduction delay and bundle branch block to complete atrioventricular block. Pacemaker placement in CA patients follows established guidelines, similar to those for patients without CA, with generally good efficacy. The role and appropriate timing of pacemakers for primary prevention of brady-arrhythmias in CA remains uncertain. While biventricular (BiV) pacing has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure without CA, there are few data examining the utility of BiV pacing in patients with CA. With the advent of effective treatments for AL and ATTR, appropriate application of pacing is important to support patients with CA and conduction disease through therapeutic trials. This systematic review summarizes the current literature examining the utility of pacing in CA.

Myocardial Work Does Not Have Additional Diagnostic Value in the Assessment of ATTR Cardiac Amyloidosis

Background: Reduced LV longitudinal strain (GLS) and increased relative apical sparing (RELAPS) and increased wall thickness have been proposed as features for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA). Myocardial work (MW) has recently been shown as useful afterload independent disease marker, hence we aimed to investigate its use in differentiating ATTR-CA from heart failure with increased septal thickness but no cardiac amyloidosis (CA) (HFnCA). Methods: This study included patients with HF and increased septal thickness ≥ 14 mm. We included 59 patients with hereditary (ATTRv) and 27 wild type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) described as ATTR-CA based on DPD scintigraphy. We also enrolled 30 non-amyloidosis heart failure patients with negative DPD scintigraphy, as a control group. Myocardial work (MW) was used to assess the index (GWI), constructive (GCW) and wasted (GWW) work. Relative wall thickness (RWT) and relative apical sparing (RELAPS) were tested as conventional measures. Results: The RWT and RELAPS were higher in ATTR-CA (p < 0.001) and predicted ATTR-CA (RWT; AUC = 0.84, p < 0.001) and RELAPS (AUC = 0.81, p < 0.001). MW; GWI (p = 0.04), GCW (p = 0.03), GWW (p = 0.001) were all lower in ATTR-CA compared with HFnCA but only GWW predicted ATTR-CA, (AUC = 0.75, p < 0.001). Binary logistic univariate regression analysis showed RWT (p = 0.003, β = 16.2) and RELAPS (p = 0.003, β = 2.3) to be associated with ATTR-CA but not MW. GWI and GCW correlated with NT-proBNP (p < 0.05) and Troponin (p < 0.01), but not RWT or RELAPS. Conclusion: Myocardial work had lower accuracy, compared to RWT or RELAPS, in identifying ATTR-CA but was better related to biomarkers. Thus, MW assessment is unlikely to have additional value in improving the diagnosis of heart failure due to ATTR-CA.

The Incidence and Prevalence of Cardiac Amyloidosis in a Large Community-Based Cohort in Alberta, Canada

BACKGROUND

Despite the improved awareness of cardiac amyloidosis among clinicians, its incidence and prevalence is not well-described in a community setting. We sought to investigate the incidence and prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis in the community.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the adult population of Alberta, we examined 3 cohorts: (1) probable cases of cardiac amyloidosis: the presence of physician-assigned diagnosis of amyloidosis (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-10 code E85; ICD-9 277.3) and 1 or more health care encounter for heart failure (HF) (ICD-10 I50; ICD-9 428); (2) possible cardiac amyloidosis: the presence of clinical phenotypes suggestive of amyloidosis; and (3) a comparator HF cohort without amyloidosis. Between 2004 and 2018, 982 of the 145,329 patients with HF were identified as probable cardiac amyloidosis. During the same period, the incidence rates of probable cardiac amyloidosis increased from 1.38 to 3.69 per 100,000 person-years and the prevalence rates increased from 3.42 to 14.85 per 100,000 person-years (P_trend < .0001). Patients with probable cardiac amyloidosis were more likely to be male, have a higher comorbidity burden, greater health care use, and poorer outcomes as compared with patients with HF without amyloidosis. A much larger group of patients was identified as possible cardiac amyloidosis (n = 46,255), with similar increase in prevalence from 2004 to 2018 (from 416 to 850 per 100,000 person-years).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence and prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis has increased over the last decade. Given the advent of new therapies for cardiac amyloidosis and considering their high cost, it is imperative to devise strategies to screen, identify, and track patients with cardiac amyloidosis from administrative databases.

Pharmacotherapy review: Emerging treatment modalities in transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

DISCLAIMER

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles , AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

PURPOSE

This review aims to summarize the evidence and pharmacological characteristics of treatment options for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Additionally, this review highlights the role of clinical pharmacists in helping to secure newly introduced therapies.

SUMMARY

ATTR-CM, a disease characterized by misfolded protein that is deposited in the myocardium and disrupts cardiac functioning, has historically been underdiagnosed due to the need for invasive biopsy and an illusion of rarity. Once diagnosed, limited treatment modalities for ATTR-CM have led providers to rely on nonpharmacological remedies or off-label use of medications with limited evidence of benefit. However, recent noninvasive diagnostic advancements and heightened disease state awareness have revealed increased prevalence of ATTR-CM. This has led to the introduction of several first-in-class pharmaceuticals with actions targeted at inhibiting the various phases of amyloidosis: TTR stabilizers include diflunisal and first-in-class, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved tafamidis; TTR silencers include patisiran and inotersen; fibril disrupters include doxycycline with tauroursodeoxycholic acid; and alternative agents include green tea extract and curcumin.

CONCLUSION

ATTR-CM treatments have emerged and, despite current limited data, are continuing to evolve. Tafamidis, the only agent approved by FDA for ATTR-CM, shows promise to improve survival and quality of life in patients with ATTR-CM. Pharmacists can play a key role in assisting with agent selection for this disease state, as well as providing knowledge about current and future clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of the available treatment modalities.

Echocardiographic markers of cardiac amyloidosis in patients with heart failure and left ventricular hypertrophy

BACKGROUND

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA), following a non-invasive diagnosis, constitutes an increasingly prevalent heart failure (HF) etiology. This study aims to determine which echocardiography findings help to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) admitted for decompensated HF. M: ETHODS: The present study is a retrospective observational study on a cohort of 85 LVH patients admitted for HF decompensation, in which 99mTc-DPD scanning was performed to rule out transthyretin CA. The echocardiographic findings obtained were compared between CA and non-CA groups.

RESULTS

From a total number of 85 patients, 49 (57.6%) met the CA criteria and 36 (42.3%) were ruled out for the disease. Interventricular septum thickness (16 ± 3 mm vs. 14 ± 3 mm), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (14 ± 3 mm vs. 11 ± 2 mm), left ventricular mass (259 ± 76 g vs. 224 ± 53 g), left ventricular telediastolic diameter (48 ± 7 mm vs. 53 ± 6 mm), left ventricular telediastolic indexed volume (51 ± 18 cm³/m² vs. 59 ± 16 cm³/m²), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (16 ± 5 mm vs. 20 ± 4 mm), right atrial area (27.4 ± 8.4 cm² vs. 22.2 ± 5.7 cm²) and strain relative apical sparing (2.2 ± 0.9 vs. 1.03 ± 0.4; p = 0.04) were significantly associated with the diagnosis of CA.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with LVH admitted for HF decompensation, there are several echocardiographic features (LVH, reduced left ventricular cavity size, strain relative apical sparing, right atrial dilation, and altered right ventricular function) that are associated with the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis.

Phasic left atrial strain analysis to discriminate cardiac amyloidosis in patients with unclear thick heart pathology

AIMS

Traditional echocardiographic parameters for the assessment of suspected cardiac amyloidosis (CA) are of limited diagnostic accuracy. We sought to explore differences and the discriminative value of phasic left atrial strain (LAS) reductions and of regional longitudinal left ventricular (LV) strain alterations (relative apical sparing; RELAPS) in CA and other causes of LV wall thickening (LVH).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 54 patients with unclear LVH (mean septal diastolic wall thickness 17.8 ± 3.5 mm); CA was bioptically confirmed in 35 patients (8 mATTR, 6 wtATTR, 20 AL, and 1 AA amyloidosis) and LVH in 19 subjects. We analysed RELAPS as well as LA reservoir (LASr), conduit (LAScd), and contraction strain (LASct) using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (EchoPAC software, GE). RELAPS was higher (1.37 ± 0.94 vs. 0.86 ± 0.29, P < 0.007), whereas atrial mechanics were significantly reduced in CA (LASr, LAScd, and LASct: 9.7 ± 5.2%, -6.5 ± 3.5%, and -5.0 ± 4.1% in CA; and 22.7 ± 7.8%, -13.9 ± 5.2%, and -13.0 ± 5.5% in LVH, respectively; P < 0.001 each). With an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82-0.99], LASr showed a higher diagnostic accuracy in discriminating CA than RELAPS (AUC 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.88). LASr and LAScd remained significantly associated with CA in a multivariate regression model.

CONCLUSION

Phasic LAS was significantly reduced in patients with CA and showed a higher diagnostic accuracy in discriminating CA than RELAPS. The additional assessment of phasic LAS may be useful to rule in the possible diagnosis of CA in patients with unclear LVH.

Prognostic implications of left ventricular myocardial work indices in cardiac amyloidosis

AIMS

Left ventricular (LV) myocardial work index (LVMWI) derived from pressure-strain analysis resembles a novel non-invasive method for LV function evaluation. LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) has proven beneficial for risk stratification in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the potential additive value of LVMWI for outcome prediction in CA patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled 100 CA patients in the period 2014-19 from Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark and Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. All patients underwent comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation and were prospectively followed until censuring date on 31 March 2019 or death. During follow-up, we registered major adverse cardiac events (MACE) comprising heart failure requiring hospitalization and all-cause mortality. The median follow-up was 490 (228-895) days. During follow-up, a total of 42% of patients experienced MACE and 29% died. Patients with LVMWI <1043 mmHg% had higher MACE risk than patients with LVMWI >1043 mmHg% [hazard ratio (HR) 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-4.3; P = 0.01]. Furthermore, patients with LVMWI <1039 mmHg% also had higher all-cause mortality risk than patients with LVMWI >1039 mmHg% (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.5; P < 0.05). Moreover, the apical-to-basal segmental work ratio was a significant MACE and all-cause mortality predictor. By combining LVMWI and apical-to-basal segmental work ratio, we obtained an independent model for all-cause mortality prediction (high vs. low risk: HR 6.4, 95% CI 2.4-17.1; P < 0.0001). In contrast, LVGLS did not predict all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSION

LV myocardial work may be of prognostic value in CA patients by predicting both MACE and all-cause mortality.

Time trajectory of cardiac function and its relation with survival in patients with light-chain cardiac amyloidosis

AIMS

We aimed to analyse the time-serial change of cardiac function in light-chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis patients undergoing active chemotherapy and its relationship with patient outcome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Seventy-two patients with AL cardiac amyloidosis undergoing active chemotherapy who had two or more echocardiographic examinations were identified from a prospective observational cohort (n = 34) and a retrospective cohort (n = 38). Echocardiographic parameters were obtained immediately prior to 1-3, 3-6, 6-12, and 12-24 months after the first chemotherapy. Study endpoint was a composite of death or heart transplantation (HT). During a median of 32 months (interquartile range 8-51) follow-up, 33 patients (45.8%) died and 4 patients (5.6%) underwent HT. Echocardiograms immediately prior to the first chemotherapy did not show differences between the patients with adverse events vs. those without. Significant increase in mitral E/e' ratio and decline in left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) was observed, starting at 3-6 months after the first chemotherapy only in those who experienced adverse events on follow-up, which was also evident in those who responded to chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that B-natriuretic peptide >500 pg/mL and troponin I >0.15 ng/dL at initial diagnosis, hospitalization for heart failure, E/e' >15, and LV-GLS <10% during follow-up were independent predictors of outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In AL cardiac amyloidosis patients undergoing active chemotherapy, the deterioration of LV function may occur, starting even at 3-6 months after the first chemotherapy. Serial echocardiography may help identify those who experience a clinical event in the near future despite active chemotherapy.

Scintigraphy false-positive results for cardiac amyloidosis in a patient with Danon disease

Common diagnostic approach in patients with suspected cardiac amyloidosis includes cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy. We report the first clinical case of false-positive results of scintigraphy in a patient with Danon disease.

Frailty in Wild-Type Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis: The Tip of the Iceberg

ATTRwt-CA occurs in elderly patients and leads to severe heart failure. The disease mechanism involves cardiac and extracardiac infiltration by amyloid fibrils. The objectives of this study are to describe the frailty phenotype in patients with ATTRwt-CA and to assess the associations between frailty parameters, the severity of cardiac involvement, and the course of amyloid disease. We used multidimensional geriatric tools to prospectively assess frailty in patients with ATTRwt-CA consulting (in 2018-2019) in the French National Reference Center for Cardiac Amyloidosis. We included 36 patients (35 males; median age: 82 years (76-86). A third of the patients were categorized as NYHA class III or IV, and 39% had an LVEF below 45%. The median serum NTproBNP was 3188 (1341-8883) pg/mL. The median duration of amyloidosis was 146 months (73-216). The frequency of frailty was 50% and 33% according to the physical frailty phenotype and the Short Emergency Geriatric Assessment questionnaire, respectively. Frailty affected a large number of domains, namely autonomy (69%), balance (58%), muscle weakness (74%), malnutrition (39%), dysexecutive syndrome (72%), and depression (49%). The severity of CA was significantly associated with many frailty parameters independently of age. Balance disorders and poor mobility were also significantly associated with a longer course of amyloid disease. Frailty is frequent in patients with ATTRwt-CA. Some frailty parameters were significantly associated with a longer course of amyloid disease and CA severity. Taking into account frailty in the assessment and management of ATTRwt should improve patients' quality of life.