Novel strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis

Chronic Viral Infections and Al Amyloidosis: An Uncommon Association

AL-amyloidosis is caused by deposition of pathological insoluble proteins in organs and tissues. HIV infection is a multi-system disorder causing chronic inflammation. We report a case of AL-amyloidosis associated with HIV suggesting that HIV-associated immune dysregulation might be critical for pathogenesis of plasma cells dyscrasias and then AL amyloidosis.

Between Charybdis and Scylla-an Odyssey in AL amyloidosis: insights and learnings from a narrative review and case report series

Being "between Scylla and Charybdis" is an idiom derived from Greek mythology to mean "between a rock and a hard place" and clinicians managing amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis often find themselves in this predicament. AL amyloidosis is caused by monoclonal light chains, most commonly produced by CD-38 positive plasma cells in target organs. The disease usually involves significant cardiac and/or renal involvement, but the systemic nature of the disease often leads to variable and non-specific manifestations that can critically delay early diagnosis and treatment. Here, we present a case series reflecting primarily the cardiologist and hematologist perspective to uniquely illustrate key learnings that we believe have the potential to improve diagnosis timelines, treatment initiation, and ultimately improve outcomes for this severe disease. Through our case series, we illustrate that to achieve an accurate diagnosis, a high degree of clinical suspicion is needed, and we stress the important requirement of substantial multi-disciplinary collaboration. Our experience strongly indicates that AL amyloidosis patients presenting with cardiac symptoms need to be identified and treated rapidly, prior to the development of irreversible cardiotoxicity. In addition, patients without significant cardiac involvement may benefit from rapid initial treatment with daratumumab along with cyclophosphamide-bortezomib-dexamethasone, which can render patients eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or in some instances means they can forgo ASCT completely. Increased awareness of the disease is needed among general cardiologists and hematologists, and specialized centers with the relevant expertise should be willing to accept patients for fast-track evaluation as part of their standard procedures, due to the unique contribution they can offer in the clinical management of this life-threatening disease.

In-hospital outcomes among amyloidosis patients with atrial fibrillation: A propensity score-matched analysis

Background

The impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with amyloidosis on in-hospital outcomes is not well-established. We aimed to examine in-hospital outcomes among patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of AF with and without amyloidosis.

Methods and Results

We queried the Nationwide Readmissions Database to compare the in-hospital outcomes among AF patients with and without amyloidosis. Our study demonstrated that in-hospital all-cause mortality, adverse events, and 30-day readmission were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusions

Patients with AF and concurrent amyloidosis did not have worse in-hospital outcomes than those with AF alone.

Clinical characterization and outcomes of a cohort of colombian patients with AL Amyloidosis

Background

Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is characterized by amyloid fibril deposition derived from monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains, resulting in multiorgan dysfunction. Limited data exist on the clinical features of AL amyloidosis.

Objective

This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes in Colombian patients with AL amyloidosis.

Methods

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted at three high-complexity centers in Medellín, Colombia. Adults with AL amyloidosis diagnosed between 2012 and 2022 were included. Clinical, laboratory, histological, treatment, and survival data were analyzed.

Results

The study included 63 patients. Renal involvement was most prevalent (66%), followed by cardiac involvement (61%). Multiorgan involvement occurred in 61% of patients. Amyloid deposition was most commonly detected in renal biopsy (40%). Bortezomib-based therapy was used in 68%, and 23.8% received high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HDCT-ASCT). Hematological response was observed in 95% of patients with available data. Cardiac and renal organ responses were 15% and 14%, respectively. Median overall survival was 45.1 months (95% CI: 22.2-63.8). In multivariate analysis, cardiac involvement was significantly associated with inferior overall survival (HR 3.27; 95% CI: 1.23-8.73; p=0.018), HDCT-ASCT had a non-significant trend towards improved overall survival (HR 0.25; 95% CI: 0.06-1.09; p=0.065).

Conclusions

In this study of Colombian patients with AL amyloidosis, renal involvement was more frequent than cardiac involvement. Overall survival and multiorgan involvement were consistent with data from other regions of the world. Multivariate analysis identified cardiac involvement and HDCT-AHCT as possible prognostic factors.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in light chain amyloidosis: An institutional registry of amyloidosis report in Argentina

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a form of systemic amyloidosis, causing organ dysfunction, mainly affecting the heart and kidney. Patient-tailored and risk-adapted decision making is critical in AL amyloidosis management. There is limited real-world evidence data from Argentina and Latin America regarding the treatment approaches for AL amyloidosis. This retrospective cohort study aimed to describe the treatment patterns and outcomes in adult patients (>18 years) diagnosed with AL amyloidosis at the Hospital Italiano in Buenos Aires, Argentina, using a 10-yearfollow-up data (June 1, 2010 to May 31, 2019) from the institutional registry of amyloidosis (IRA). The study population had a mean age of 63 years and 54.4% weremale. Heart and kidney were the most frequently affected organs. Of the 90 eligible patients included in the study, 70underwent treatment. Bortezomib-based regimen was the preferred first-line treatment (75.7% patients). Overall,54.4% of the patients presented a deep response (complete or very good partial response). Median overall survival (OS) was 5years, the 1-year OS and progression free survival rates were 80% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 68–87) and 80% (95%CI 68–87)), respectively. This study provides vital real-world evidence for the long-term treatment patterns and survival in a large cohort of AL amyloidosis patients in Argentina.

A randomized phase 3 study of ixazomib-dexamethasone versus physician's choice in relapsed or refractory AL amyloidosis

In the first phase 3 study in relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis (TOURMALINE-AL1 NCT01659658), 168 patients with relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis after 1-2 prior lines were randomized to ixazomib (4 mg, days 1, 8, 15) plus dexamethasone (20 mg, days 1, 8, 15, 22; n = 85) or physician's choice (dexamethasone ± melphalan, cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, or lenalidomide; n = 83) in 28-day cycles until progression or toxicity. Primary endpoints were hematologic response rate and 2-year vital organ deterioration or mortality rate. Only the first primary endpoint was formally tested at this interim analysis. Best hematologic response rate was 53% with ixazomib-dexamethasone vs 51% with physician's choice (p = 0.76). Complete response rate was 26 vs 18% (p = 0.22). Median time to vital organ deterioration or mortality was 34.8 vs 26.1 months (hazard ratio 0.53; 95% CI, 0.32-0.87; p = 0.01). Median treatment duration was 11.7 vs 5.0 months. Adverse events of clinical importance included diarrhea (34 vs 30%), rash (33 vs 20%), cardiac arrhythmias (26 vs 15%), nausea (24 vs 14%). Despite not meeting the first primary endpoint, all time-to-event data favored ixazomib-dexamethasone. These results are clinically relevant to this relapsed/refractory patient population with no approved treatment options.

Comprehensive Review of AL amyloidosis: some practical recommendations

Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is among the more common and more severe of the amyloidoses usually involving the slow proliferation of a bone-marrow-residing plasma cell (PC) clone and the secretion of unstable immunoglobulin-free light chains (FLC) that infiltrate peripheral tissues and result in detrimental end-organ damage. Disease presentation is rather vague, and the hallmark of treatment is early diagnosis before irreversible end-organ damage. Once diagnosed, treatment decision is transplant-driven whereby ~20% of patients are eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) with or without bortezomib-based induction. In the setting of ASCT-ineligibility, bortezomib plays a central role in upfront treatment with the recent addition of daratumumab to the current emerging standard of care. In general, management of AL amyloidosis is aimed at achieving deep, durable responses with very close monitoring for early detection of relapse/refractory disease. This article provides a comprehensive review of the management of patients with AL amyloidosis including goals of therapy, current treatment guidelines in the setting of both ASCT-eligibility and ineligibility, treatment response monitoring recommendations, toxicity management, and treatment of relapse/refractory disease.

Updates in the Diagnosis and Management of AL Amyloidosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is an insidious progressive disease which results in significant morbidity and inevitable mortality if not diagnosed and treated promptly. This review will highlight recent developments and summarize critical clinical points and updated practice changes for the clinician in 2020.

RECENT FINDINGS

Comparative analyses of staging systems, updated prognostic tools, and treatment response criteria now allow for improved patient stratification and treatment decisions; the role of minimal residual disease in response assessment is still being assessed. Clinical and genetic predictors for long-term survivors have been highlighted. Standard-of-care front-line bortezomib and the integration of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in the relapsed disease have transformed treatment approach in recent years. Various clinical trials in the pipeline include novel anti-plasma cell therapies and therapies directed against amyloid deposits which promise to further advance the treatment landscape. Diagnosis, response assessment, and treatment paradigms for AL amyloidosis have evolved significantly in the past 15 years, translating into superior outcomes and increased chances of long-term survival for AL amyloidosis.

Novel challenges in the management of immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis: from the bench to the bedside

INTRODUCTION

Immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis is one of the most frequent systemic amyloidosis in Western countries. It is caused by a B-cell clone producing a misfolded light chain (LC) that deposits in organs.

AREAS COVERED

The review examines recent findings on pathophysiology and clinical management of AL amyloidosis. It contains an update on the recent hot topics as novel therapeutic approaches, definition of relapse, and hematologic response assessment. To review literature on AL amyloidosis, a bibliographic search was performed using PubMed.

EXPERT OPINION

Due to the proteotoxicity of amyloidogenic LCs, the therapeutic goal is a rapid and profound decrease in their concentration. The standard treatment is a risk-adapted chemotherapy targeting the B-cell clone. Novel, promising drugs, as daratumumab, are currently under evaluation in newly-diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients. New sensitive techniques, as mass spectrometry approach and bone marrow minimal residual disease assessment, are available to evaluate depth of response. After first-line therapy, increase in LC concentration may precede worsening of organ dysfunction and should be considered carefully. Further clarification of molecular mechanisms of the disease are shedding light on new possible therapeutic targets. Innovative treatment strategies and novel technologies will improve our ability to treat AL amyloidosis, preventing organ deterioration.

Amyloidosis: diagnosis and new therapies for a misunderstood and misdiagnosed disease

Amyloidosis is a group of diseases characterized by extracellular deposition of amyloid fibril complexes. Fibril deposition results in organ dysfunction and possible failure. Amyloidosis is regarded as a rare disease, but in general is underdiagnosed. The two main types of systemic amyloidosis are immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis. The increased availability of noninvasive cardiac imaging, genetic testing and improved laboratory assays and protein identification methods have led to increased diagnosis. However, in many cases, the diagnosis is not made until the patient develops organ impairment. Earlier diagnosis is required to prevent irreversible organ failure. Novel treatments for immunoglobulin light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis that halt disease progression, prolong and increase quality of life have recently become available.

Immunoglobulin Light-Chain Amyloidosis: Clinical Presentations and Diagnostic Approach

Systemic immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare disorder arising from a plasma cell clone that produces misfolded immunoglobulin light chains, which are deposited in various tissues and organs as amyloid fibrils. Signs and symptoms are typically vague and overlap with those arising from other common diseases; consequently, diagnosis of AL amyloidosis is challenging for clinicians. Substantial delays between onset of symptoms and diagnosis are common, and result in poorer outcomes, particularly in patients with cardiac AL amyloidosis and others who develop advanced organ dysfunction. With the need to identify AL amyloidosis as early as possible, it is important for health-care practitioners, including advanced practice clinicians and nurses, to be aware of the hallmark presenting signs and symptoms, as well as the latest practice for evaluation and diagnosis. Increased awareness of signs and symptoms associated with AL amyloidosis, particularly relating to the most frequently involved organs, the heart and kidneys, represents an opportunity for achieving earlier diagnosis. Here we review these issues in AL amyloidosis, summarize the key presenting symptoms that clinicians need to be alert to, and discuss the latest diagnostic tests, with the aim of expediting patient identification and diagnosis with the goal of improving patient outcomes.

Use of novel therapies in the treatment of light chain amyloidosis

Immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare life-threatening disease caused by light chains that are toxic to vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver and peripheral nervous system, and that misfold and assemble as amyloid fibrils and deposit both in affected organs and systemically in the vasculature and other tissues. Patients afflicted by this disease have B-cell disorders, almost always related to clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow, the burden of which can range from small clones involving 5% or less of marrow cells to frank multiple myeloma. The goal of therapy is to eliminate the clonal plasma cells producing these toxic light chains to halt and possibly reverse symptomatic organ damage. While autologous stem cell transplantation can be a very effective treatment modality in AL, it has a limited role due to the frailty of this particular population. Conservative treatment in the form of chemotherapy has become the backbone of therapy. Bortezomib combined with alkylators has proven quite successful in inducing hematologic responses. However, despite these advances, tolerability and resistance continue to be an ongoing issue. Novel anti-plasma cell therapies such as ixazomib, carfilzomib, lenalidomide and pomalidomide are actively being combined and evaluated in clinical trials for efficacy and toxicity in this challenging patient population. Other approaches, such as monoclonal antibodies targeting surface proteins and amyloid deposits, are being tested and combined with novel agents. In this review, we will provide an overview of the clinical trials that have led to current treatment algorithms and will also discuss monoclonal antibodies currently under investigation and in various stages of clinical development.

Systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis

Systemic immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis is a protein misfolding disease caused by the conversion of immunoglobulin light chains from their soluble functional states into highly organized amyloid fibrillar aggregates that lead to organ dysfunction. The disease is progressive and, accordingly, early diagnosis is vital to prevent irreversible organ damage, of which cardiac damage and renal damage predominate. The development of novel sensitive biomarkers and imaging technologies for the detection and quantification of organ involvement and damage is facilitating earlier diagnosis and improved evaluation of the efficacy of new and existing therapies. Treatment is guided by risk assessment, which is based on levels of cardiac biomarkers; close monitoring of clonal and organ responses guides duration of therapy and changes in regimen. Several new classes of drugs, such as proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs, along with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, have led to rapid and deep suppression of amyloid light chain production in the majority of patients. However, effective therapies for patients with advanced cardiac involvement are an unmet need. Passive immunotherapies targeting clonal plasma cells and directly accelerating removal of amyloid deposits promise to further improve the overall outlook of this increasingly treatable disease.

AL amyloidosis: advances in diagnostics and treatment

AL amyloidosis (light chain; previously also called primary amyloidosis) is a systemic disease characterized by an amyloid deposition process affecting many organs, and which still has unsatisfactory survival of patients. The monoclonal light chains kappa (κ) or lambda (λ) or their fragments form the fibrils that deposit and accumulate in different tissues. Renal involvement is very frequent in AL amyloidosis and can lead to the development of nephrotic syndrome followed by renal failure in some cases. AL amyloidosis ultimately leads to destruction of tissues and progressive disease. With recent advances in the treatment, the importance of an early diagnosis of amyloidosis and correct assessment of its type is high. Histologic confirmation is based on Congo red detection of amyloid deposits in tissues but AL amyloidosis must also be distinguished from other systemic forms of amyloidoses with renal involvement, such as AA amyloidosis, amyloidosis with heavy chain deposition, fibrinogen Aα or ALECT2 (leukocyte chemotactic factor 2) deposition. Immunofluorescence (IF) plays a key role here. IF on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue after protease digestion, immunohistochemistry or laser microdissection with mass spectrometry should complete the diagnosis in unclear cases. Standard treatment with melphalan and prednisolone or with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone has been replaced with newer drugs used for the treatment of multiple myeloma—bortezomib, carfilzomib and ixazomib or thalidomide, lenalidomide and pomalidomide. High-dose melphalan supported by autologous stem cell transplantation remains the therapeutic option for patients with low-risk status. These new treatment options prolong survival from months to years and improve the prognosis in a majority of patients.

Novel Therapies in Light Chain Amyloidosis

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most common form of amyloidosis involving the kidney. It is characterized by albuminuria, progressing to overt nephrotic syndrome and eventually end-stage renal failure if diagnosed late or ineffectively treated, and in most cases by concomitant heart involvement. Cardiac amyloidosis is the main determinant of survival, whereas the risk of dialysis is predicted by baseline proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate, and by response to therapy. The backbone of treatment is chemotherapy targeting the underlying plasma cell clone, that needs to be risk-adapted due to the frailty of patients with AL amyloidosis who have cardiac and/or multiorgan involvement. Low-risk patients (∼20%) can be considered for autologous stem cell transplantation that can be preceded by induction and/or followed by consolidation with bortezomib-based regimens. Bortezomib combined with alkylators, such as melphalan, preferred in patients harboring t(11;14), or cyclophosphamide, is used in most intermediate-risk patients, and with cautious dose escalation in high-risk subjects. Novel, powerful anti-plasma cell agents, such as pomalidomide, ixazomib, and daratumumab, prove effective in the relapsed/refractory setting, and are being moved to upfront therapy in clinical trials. Novel approaches based on small molecules interfering with the amyloidogenic process and on antibodies targeting the amyloid deposits gave promising results in preliminary uncontrolled studies, are being tested in controlled trials, and will likely prove powerful complements to chemotherapy. Finally, improvements in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of organ damage are unveiling novel potential treatment targets, moving toward a cure for this dreadful disease.

Light Chain Amyloidosis

Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is caused by a usually small plasma-cell clone that is able to produce the amyloidogenic light chains. They are able to misfold and aggregate, deposit in tissues in the form of amyloid fibrils and lead to irreversible organ dysfunction and eventually death if treatment is late or ineffective. Cardiac damage is the most important prognostic determinant. The risk of dialysis is predicted by the severity of renal involvement, defined by the baseline proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate, and by the response to therapy. The specific treatment is chemotherapy targeting the underlying plasma-cell clone. It needs to be risk-adapted, according to the severity of cardiac and/or multi-organ involvement. Autologous stem cell transplant (preceded by induction and/or followed by consolidation with bortezomib-based regimens) can be considered for low-risk patients (~20%). Bortezomib combined with alkylators is used in the majority of intermediate-risk patients, and with possible dose escalation in high-risk subjects. Novel, powerful anti-plasma cell agents were investigated in the relapsed/refractory setting, and are being moved to upfront therapy in clinical trials. In addition, the use of novel approaches based on antibodies targeting the amyloid deposits or small molecules interfering with the amyloidogenic process gave promising results in preliminary studies. Some of them are under evaluation in controlled trials. These molecules will probably add powerful complements to standard chemotherapy. The understanding of the specific molecular mechanisms of cardiac damage and the characteristics of the amyloidogenic clone are unveiling novel potential treatment approaches, moving towards a cure for this dreadful disease.

Recent advances in the noninvasive strategies of cardiac amyloidosis

The heart, like any organ in the body, is susceptible to amyloid deposition. Although more than 30 types of protein can cause amyloidosis, only two types commonly deposit in the ventricular myocardium: amyloid light chain and amyloid transthyretin. Amyloid cardiomyopathy is usually a major determinant of patient outcomes, and the diagnosis of heart involvement can be often relatively under-diagnosed, owing to nonspecific presenting symptoms and signs at a subclinical stage. The diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is usually performed by endomyocardial biopsy; however, the invasive nature and related high-risk complications restrict its wide use in clinical settings. Recently, with the advent of innovative techniques used for evaluating cardiac amyloidosis, noninvasive methods become increasingly important, especially in earlier diagnosis, distinguishing typing, risk prediction and response to treatment. Here, we will review recent developments in the noninvasive methods used in the assessment of cardiac amyloidosis, focused on the laboratory biomarkers and imaging modalities.

Systemic amyloidosis: novel therapies and role of biomarkers

Systemic amyloidosis is caused by misfolding and extracellular deposition of one of an ever-growing list of circulating proteins, resulting in vital organ dysfunction and eventually death. Despite different predisposing conditions, including plasma cell dyscrasias [immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis], long-lasting inflammation [reactive (AA) amyloidosis] or mutations (hereditary amyloidoses), clinical manifestations are conspicuously overlapping and mimic more prevalent conditions, significantly complicating and often delaying the recognition of these rare, complex diseases. However, refined diagnostic and imaging approaches and the increasing role of biomarkers, which help in establishing the diagnosis, assessing the prognosis and evaluating the response to therapy, have considerably improved the management of these conditions. The pillar of anti-amyloid therapy remains the prompt reduction or elimination of the amyloidogenic precursor. This is accomplished by targeting the underlying condition, and recent improvements in the treatment of plasma cell disorders and chronic inflammatory conditions have positively reverberated onto the management of AL and AA amyloidosis, respectively. Moreover, recent, substantial improvements in the understanding of the molecular underpinnings of systemic amyloidosis have unveiled different key steps in the amyloidogenic cascade which can be valid therapeutic targets. These include stabilizers of the native conformation of the amyloidogenic precursor, inhibitors of fibrillogenesis, amyloid fibril disruptors and promoters of amyloid clearance. Innovative pharmacological strategies, including rational, structure-based drug design, gene knockdown and immunotherapy, but also repurposing of old, safe drugs with newly recognized anti-amyloid properties, are currently being pursued already in the clinical setting, holding the promise of dramatically improving the outcome of these dismal conditions in the near future.

Role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in suspected cardiac amyloidosis: late gadolinium enhancement pattern as mortality predictor

BACKGROUND

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has gained a central role in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). While the diagnostic role of a typical late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) pattern (global subendocardial enhancement coupled with accelerated contrast washout) has been identified, evidence is still conflicting regarding the prognostic role of such examination.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively analysed all patients referring for CMR at Niguarda Hospital (Milan, Italy) from January 2006 to January 2015 for suspected CA. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. We identified 42 patients and divided them into 2 groups, according to the presence (Group A) or absence (Group B) of a typical amyloidosis LGE pattern. At the end of the follow-up (median 37 months, interquartile range 10-50 months), 31 patients (74%) had died. The hazard ratio for all-cause death was 3.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-6.4, p < 0.01) for Group A versus Group B. Median survival time was 17 months (95% CI 7-42 months) for Group A and 70 months (95% CI 49-94 months) for Group B (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis did not find any adjunctive predictive role for biventricular volumes and ejection fraction, indexed left ventricular mass, transmitral E/e' at echocardiography, age at diagnosis or serum creatinine.

CONCLUSION

In our population, a typical LGE pattern was significantly associated with higher mortality. Moreover, patients with a typical LGE pattern showed a globally worse prognosis. Our data suggest that the LGE pattern may play a central role in prognostic stratification of patients with suspected CA, thus prompting further diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

Light-chain cardiac amyloidosis: strategies to promote early diagnosis and cardiac response

Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a systemic disease characterised by the aggregation of misfolded immunoglobulin light chain (LC), predominantly in the heart and kidneys, causing organ failure. If untreated, the median survival of patients with cardiac AL amyloidosis is 6 months from the onset of heart failure. Protracted time to establish a diagnosis, often lasting >1 year, is a frequent factor in poor treatment outcomes. Cardiologists, to whom patients are often referred, frequently miss the opportunity to diagnose cardiac AL amyloidosis. Nearly all typical cardiac support measures, with the exception of diuretics, are ineffective and may even worsen clinical symptoms, emphasising the need for accurate diagnosis. Patients with severe cardiac involvement face poor outcomes; heart transplantation is rarely an option because of multiorgan involvement, rapid clinical decline and challenges in predicting which patients will respond to treatment of the underlying plasma cell disorder. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with ââ'¬Ëœsource therapiesââ'¬â"¢ that limit the production of amyloidogenic LC are associated with better survival and improvement in organ function after a median of 2.4 months following haematological complete response. However, organ recovery is often incomplete because these source therapies do not directly target deposited amyloid. Emerging amyloid-directed therapies may attenuate, and potentially reverse, organ dysfunction by clearing existing amyloid and inhibiting fibril formation of circulating aggregates. Improved recognition of AL amyloidosis by cardiologists allows for earlier treatment and improved outcomes.

Rationale, application and clinical qualification for NT-proBNP as a surrogate end point in pivotal clinical trials in patients with AL amyloidosis

Amyloid light-chain (LC) amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) is a rare and fatal disease for which there are no approved therapies. In patients with AL amyloidosis, LC aggregates progressively accumulate in organs, resulting in organ failure that is particularly lethal when the heart is involved. A significant obstacle in the development of treatments for patients with AL amyloidosis, as well as for those with any disease that is rare, severe and heterogeneous, has been satisfying traditional clinical trial end points (for example, overall survival or progression-free survival). It is for this reason that many organizations, including the United States Food and Drug Administration through its Safety and Innovation Act Accelerated Approval pathway, have recognized the need for biomarkers as surrogate end points. The international AL amyloidosis expert community is in agreement that the N-terminal fragment of the pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is analytically validated and clinically qualified as a biomarker for use as a surrogate end point for survival in patients with AL amyloidosis. Underlying this consensus is the demonstration that NT-proBNP is an indicator of cardiac response in all interventional studies in which it has been assessed, despite differences in patient population, treatment type and treatment schedule. Furthermore, NT-proBNP expression is directly modulated by amyloidogenic LC-elicited signal transduction pathways in cardiomyocytes. The use of NT-proBNP will greatly facilitate the development of targeted therapies for AL amyloidosis. Here, we review the data supporting the use of NT-proBNP, a biomarker that is analytically validated, clinically qualified, directly modulated by LC and universally accepted by AL amyloidosis specialists, as a surrogate end point for survival.

Cardiovascular Complications of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

OPINION STATEMENT

Survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) are at significant risk for cardiac disease and cardiac complications. While there may be cardiac complications during the acute period of HSCT, long-term survivors remain at risk for cardiovascular disease at a rate at least fourfold higher than the general population. Aggressive screening for cardiac risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and arrhythmias is warranted pretransplant. For those with risk factors, particularly a history of cardiovascular disease or atrial fibrillation, cardiology consultation is warranted in the pretransplantation period. Aggressive screening for cardiac risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia is warranted in HSCT survivors as well; early and aggressive treatment of left ventricular dysfunction is warranted. Collaboration between hematology/oncology and cardiology through a cardio-oncology clinic is an optimal way to help manage these patients.