Prevalence and outcome of cardiac amyloidosis in an all-comer population of patients with non-ischaemic heart failure

Background

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is increasingly recognized as an underlying cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, most studies, solely investigated the prevalence of CA in special subgroups including HFpEF and severe aortic valve disease.

Purpose

With the present study we sought to investigate prevalence of different phenotypes of CA in an all comer-population of patients with non-ischaemic heart failure (HF) and to analyze the impact of CA on all-cause mortality.

Methods

The My Biopsy HF-Study (German clinical trials register number: 22178) is a retrospective monocentric study investigating the underlying etiology of HF in an all-comer population of patients with HF of unknown etiology. Patients presenting with symptoms of HF at the University Medical Centre between 14/10/2012 and 01/03/2021, who underwent endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) were enrolled in the present study. Ischaemic HF and valvular HF were ruled out prior to EMB. Specimens were sent for further examination to a specialized laboratory approved by the Food and Drug Administration

Results

Between October 2012 and March 2021, 767 patients (71.6% men) with HF of unknown etiology were included. Mean age at the time of presentation was 55.4 years (±14.4). Altogether, 72.5% of the patients presented with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 7.1% were diagnosed with HF with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and 20.4% with HFpEF. Based on histological examination and genotyping, CA was diagnosed in 44 (5.7%) patients (immunglobulin light chain [AL] CA: 15 patients; variant transthyretin [ATTRv] CA: 6 patients; wild type transthyretin [ATTRwt] CA: 21 patients; de novo CA: 2 patients). Patients with CA were older compared with patients without CA (69.4±11.4 vs. 54.1±14.5; p<0.0001), had a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (68.2% vs. 50.9%; p=0.045) and showed a better left ventricular ejection fraction based on echocardiographic examination (47.5% vs. 32.6%; p<0.0001). With respect to biomarker expression, levels of both brain natriuretic peptide and high-sensitive troponin I were significantly higher in patients without CA (BNP: 914.1 vs 612; p=0.01; troponin I: 812.8 vs. 171.7; p=0.006). In univariate logistic regression analysis CA was associated with a significant all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] per unit increase [ui], 5.17, 95% CI, 2.93–9.08; p<0.0001), even after adjustment for classical cardiovascular risk factors (HRperui 3.12, 95% CI, 1.11–8.76; p=0.03) and comorbidities like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease and stroke (HRperui 2.93, 95% CI, 1.2–7.15; p=0.018).

Conclusions

Among patients presenting with HF of unknown etiology, including patients with HFpEF, HFmrEF and HFrEF, cardiac amyloidosis is the underlying cause of HF in 5.7% of patients and is independently associated with all-cause mortality.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Increased C reactive protein, cardiac troponin I and GLS are associated with myocardial inflammation in patients with non-ischemic heart failure

Inflammatory cardiomyopathy diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) is common in non-ischemic heart failure (HF) and might be associated with adverse outcome. We aimed to identify markers predicting myocardial inflammation in HF. We screened 517 patients with symptomatic non-ischemic HF who underwent EMB; 397 patients (median age 54 [IQR 43/64], 28.7% females) were included in this study. 230 patients were diagnosed with myocardial inflammation, defined as ≥ 7.0 CD3⁺ lymphocytes/mm² and/or ≥ 35.0 Mac1 macrophages/mm² and were compared to 167 inflammation negative patients. Patients with myocardial inflammation were more often smokers (52.4% vs. 39.8%, p = 0.013) and had higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (5.4 mg/dl vs. 3.7 mg/dl, p = 0.003). In logistic regression models CRP ≥ 8.15 mg/dl (OR 1.985 [95%CI 1.160–3.397]; p = 0.012) and Troponin I (TnI) ≥ 136.5 pg/ml (OR 3.011 [1.215–7.464]; p = 0.017) were independently associated with myocardial inflammation, whereas no association was found for elevated brain natriuretic peptide (OR 1.811 [0.873–3.757]; p = 0.111). In prognostic performance calculation the highest positive predictive value (90%) was detected for the combination of Global longitudinal strain (GLS) ≥ -13.95% and TnI ≥ 136.5 pg/ml (0.90 (0.74–0.96)). Elevated CRP, TnI and GLS in combination with TnI can be useful to detect myocardial inflammation. Smoking seems to predispose for myocardial inflammation.

Global longitudinal strain predicts outcome in chronic heart failure across American Heart Association stages: results from the MyoVasc study

Background

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) demonstrated a superior prognostic value over left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in acute heart failure (HF). Its prognostic value across American Heart Association (AHA) stages of HF – especially under considering of conventional echocardiographic measures of systolic and diastolic function – has not yet been comprehensively evaluated.

Purpose

To evaluate the prognostic value of GLS for HF-specific outcome across AHA HF stages A to D.

Methods

Data from the MyoVasc-Study (n=3,289) were analysed. Comprehensive clinical phenotyping was performed during a five-hour investigation in a dedicated study centre. GLS was measured offline utilizing QLab 9.0.1 (PHILIPS, Germany) in participants presenting with sinus rhythm during echocardiography. Worsening of HF (comprising transition from asymptomatic to symptomatic HF, HF hospitalization, and cardiac death) was assessed during a structured follow-up with subsequent validation and adjudication of endpoints. AHA stages were defined according to current guidelines.

Results

Complete information on GLS was available in 2,400 participants of whom 2,186 categorized to AHA stage A to D were available for analysis. Overall, 434 individuals were classified as AHA stage A, 629 as stage B and 1,123 as stage C/D. Mean GLS increased across AHA stages of HF: it was lowest in stage A (−19.44±3.15%), −18.01±3.46% in stage B and highest in AHA stage C/D (−15.52±4.64%, P for trend <0.0001). During a follow-up period of 3.0 [1.3/4.0] years, GLS denoted an increased risk for worsening of HF after adjustment for age and sex (hazard ratio, HRGLS [per standard deviation (SD)] 1.97 [95% confidence interval 1.73/2.23], P<0.0001) in multivariable Cox regression analysis. After additional adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, clinical profile, LVEF and E/E' ratio, GLS was the strongest echocardiographic predictor of worsening of HF (HRGLS [per SD] 1.47 [1.20/1.80], P=0.0002) in comparison to LVEF (HRLVEF [per SD] 1.23 [1.02/1.48], P=0.031) and E/E' ratio (HRE/E' [per SD] 1.12 [0.99/1.26], P=0.083). Interestingly, when stratifying for AHA stages, GLS denoted a similar increased risk for worsening of HF in individuals classified as AHA stage A/B (HRGLS [per SD] 1.63 [1.02/2.61], P=0.039) and in those classified as AHA stage C/D (HRGLS [per SD] 1.95 [1.65/2.29], P<0.0001) after adjustment for age and sex. For further evaluation, Cox regression models with interaction analysis indicated no significant interaction for (i) AHA stage A/B vs C/D (P=0.83) and (ii) NYHA functional class <II vs ≥II in individuals classified as AHA stage C/D (P=0.12).

Conclusions

GLS demonstrated a higher predictive value for worsening of HF than conventional echocardiographic measures of systolic and diastolic function. Interestingly, GLS indicated an increased risk for worsening of HF across AHA stages highlighting its potential value to advance risk prediction in chronic HF.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Center for Translational Vascular Biology (CTVB) of the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz