scholarly journals Current Challenges of Cardiac Amyloidosis Awareness Among Romanian Cardiologists

Author(s):  
Robert Adam ◽  
Gabriela Neculae ◽  
Claudiu Stan ◽  
Ruxandra Jurcut

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a restrictive cardiomyopathy characterized by deposition of amyloid in the myocardium and recent studies revealed it is more frequently seen than we thought. Advances have been made over the last years, but a delayed diagnosis is frequently seen. An online survey was conducted among cardiologists from Romania representing the first assessment of the knowledge of CA among them with 195 cardiologists answering the questionnaire. There was a wide variation in their knowledge regarding CA. Our participants had few experience with CA and reported a significant delay between first cardiac symptom and diagnosis. Around one half of them did not seem familiar with the noninvasive diagnostic algorithm and with the wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt). Even the participants who are aware of this condition and the available treatment options stated this is a rare disease and there is no disease modifying treatment available for ATTRwt. Awareness among cardiologists is the most important challenge in diagnosing CA. Romanian cardiologists are partially aware of this topic, but there are still gaps in their knowledge. Educational programs can improve screening of patients with a high suspicion for this progressive condition whose evolution has been dramatically changed by the new treatment options.

Author(s):  
Faizi Jamal ◽  
Michael Rosenzweig

Abstract Purpose of Review Amyloidosis is a protein deposition disease whereby a variety of precursor proteins form insoluble fibrils that deposit in tissues, causing organ dysfunction and, many times, death. Accurate characterization of the disease based on the nature of the precursor protein, organ involvement, and extent of disease is paramount to guide management. Cardiac amyloidosis is critical to understand because of its impact on prognosis and new treatment options available. Recent Findings New imaging methods have proven to be considerably valuable in the identification of cardiac amyloid infiltration. For treating clinicians, a diagnostic algorithm for patients with suspected amyloidosis with or without cardiomyopathy is shown to help classify disease and to direct appropriate genetic testing and management. For patients with light chain disease, recently introduced treatments adopted from multiple myeloma therapies have significantly extended progression-free and overall survival as well as organ response. In addition, new medical interventions are now available for those with transthyretin amyloidosis. Summary Although cardiac amyloidosis contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality associated with systemic disease, new tools are available to assist with diagnosis, prognosis, and management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Franco Iodice ◽  
Marco Di Mauro ◽  
Marco Giuseppe Migliaccio ◽  
Angela Iannuzzi ◽  
Roberta Pacileo ◽  
...  

Heart involvement in Cardiac Amyloidosis (CA) results in a worsening of the prognosis in almost all patients with both light-chain (AL) and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). The mainstream CA is a restrictive cardiomyopathy with hypertrophic phenotype at cardiac imaging that clinically leads to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). An early diagnosis is essential to reduce cardiac damage and to improve the prognosis. Many therapies are available, but most of them have late benefits to cardiac function; for this reason, novel therapies are going to come soon.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-302
Author(s):  
Roxana Cristina RIMBAS ◽  
Anca BALINISTEANU ◽  
Alexandra Maria CHITROCEANU ◽  
Dragos VINEREANU

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) still represents a frequently missed cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In the light of many new and effective therapies for immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL) and for transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), screening for amyloidosis as an important and potentially treatable diagnosis under the HFpEF becomes mandatory. A step-by-step algorithm for CA in HF patients was already provided by the guidelines. This review summarizes the role of all imaging modalities and biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of both subtypes, thealgorithm for diagnosis of CA, and new therapeutic options. It is the first Romanian publication which intends to bring altogether the current recommendations in the diagnosis and management of CA.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csilla Andrea Eötvös ◽  
Giorgia Pastiu ◽  
Iulia Zehan ◽  
Cerasela Goidescu ◽  
Roxana Chiorescu ◽  
...  

Amyloidosis represents a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by amyloid fibril deposition in the extracellular space in different organs. Among the many types of amyloidosis cardiac involvement occurs almost exclusively with immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) or transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis). When present cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has a significant impact on disease prognosis. The typical clinical presentation in CA is that of a restrictive cardiomyopathy. Clinical suspicion of CA is based on clinical, laboratory and electrocardiographic findings. The diagnosis is confirmed using echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, biopsy, and/or bone scintigraphy. A precise definition of amyloidosis type is essential for choosing the specific treatment for this condition. Treatment of CA has two components: general treatment of congestive HF, and specific treatment of the underlying protein misfolding disorder.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-20
Author(s):  
Mariana Gospodinova ◽  
Elena Kinova ◽  
Iana Simova ◽  
Yoto Yotov ◽  
Marina Garcheva ◽  
...  

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis is a restrictive cardiomyopathy ((ATTR-CM), caused by an extracellular deposition of insoluble amyloid fibrils in the myocardium. It is a life threatening disease with life expectancy of 2 to 6 years after diagnosis. There are two types – hereditary and wild type. Recent data reveal that the wild type ATTR-CM is a common cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, especially in elderly men. Hereditary ATTR amyloidosis is not so rare in Bulgaria. Five different mutations have been diagnosed, the most common being p.Glu89Gln, identified in 62 unrelated families with 117 patients and 72 mutation carriers. ATTR-CM diagnosis is often delayed or even missed, however its early recognition has become very important as a new drug, which is a transthyretin stabilizer is now available and other drugs are under development. Updated knowledge about the clinical presentation, diagnostic algorithm, available and future therapeutic options for ATTR-CM are a prerequisite for an early identification, timely treatment and better prognosis of the affected patients. The diagnosis requires a multidisciplinary approach with the participation of experienced specialists, multimodality imaging, well equipped histopathological and genetic laboratories. Establishing centres of expertise could improve the management of the patients with ATTR-CM.


VASA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weidenhagen ◽  
Bombien ◽  
Meimarakis ◽  
Geisler ◽  
A. Koeppel

Open surgical repair of lesions of the descending thoracic aorta, such as aneurysm, dissection and traumatic rupture, has been the “state-of-the-art” treatment for many decades. However, in specialized cardiovascular centers, thoracic endovascular aortic repair and hybrid aortic procedures have been implemented as novel treatment options. The current clinical results show that these procedures can be performed with low morbidity and mortality rates. However, due to a lack of randomized trials, the level of reliability of these new treatment modalities remains a matter of discussion. Clinical decision-making is generally based on the experience of the vascular center as well as on individual factors, such as life expectancy, comorbidity, aneurysm aetiology, aortic diameter and morphology. This article will review and discuss recent publications of open surgical, hybrid thoracic aortic (in case of aortic arch involvement) and endovascular repair in complex pathologies of the descending thoracic aorta.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-144
Author(s):  
Evelin Szabó ◽  
Zsolt Parajkó ◽  
Diana Opincariu ◽  
Monica Chițu ◽  
Nóra Raț ◽  
...  

Abstract Atherosclerosis is the elemental precondition for any cardiovascular disease and the predominant cause of ischemic heart disease that often leads to myocardial infarction. Systemic risk factors play an important role in the starting and progression of atherosclerosis. The complexity of the disease is caused by its multifactorial origin. Besides the traditional risk factors, genetic predisposition is also a strong risk factor. Many studies have intensively researched cardioprotective drugs, which can relieve myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, thereby reducing infarct size. A better understanding of abnormal epigenetic pathways in the myocardial pathology may result in new treatment options. Individualized therapy based on genome sequencing is important for an effective future medical treatment. Studies based on multiomics help to better understand the pathophysiological mechanism of several diseases at a molecular level. Epigenomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic research may be essential in detecting the pathological phenotype of myocardial ischemia and ischemic heart failure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Van-An Duong ◽  
Jeeyun Ahn ◽  
Na-Young Han ◽  
Jong-Moon Park ◽  
Jeong-Hun Mok ◽  
...  

Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), one of the major microvascular complications commonly occurring in diabetic patients, can be classified into Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) and Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR). Currently available therapies are only targeted for later stages of the disease in which some pathologic changes may be irreversible. Thus, there is a need to develop new treatment options for earlier stages of DR through revealing pathological mechanisms of PDR and NPDR. Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize proteomes of diabetic through quantitative analysis of PDR and NPDR. Methods: Vitreous body was collected from three groups: control (non-diabetes mellitus), NPDR, and PDR. Vitreous proteins were digested to peptide mixtures and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. MaxQuant was used to search against the database and statistical analyses were performed using Perseus. Gene ontology analysis, related-disease identification, and protein-protein interaction were performed using the differential expressed proteins. Results: Twenty proteins were identified as critical in PDR and NPDR. The NPDR group showed different expressions of kininogen-1, serotransferrin, ribonuclease pancreatic, osteopontin, keratin type II cytoskeletal 2 epidermal, and transthyretin. Also, prothrombin, signal transducer and activator of transcription 4, hemoglobin subunit alpha, beta, and delta were particularly up-regulated proteins for PDR group. The up-regulated proteins related to complement and coagulation cascades. Statherin was down-regulated in PDR and NPDR compared with the control group. Transthyretin was the unique protein that increased its abundance in NPDR compared with the PDR and control group. Conclusion: This study confirmed the different expressions of some proteins in PDR and NPDR. Additionally, we revealed uniquely expressed proteins of PDR and NPDR, which would be differential biomarkers: prothrombin, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, hemoglobin subunit alpha, beta, and transthyretin.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanghui Xu ◽  
Yuhao Wang ◽  
Hushan Zhang ◽  
Xueke She ◽  
Jianjun Yang

Neuroendocrine neoplasias (NENs) are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors scattered throughout the body. Surgery, locoregional or ablative therapies as well as maintenance treatments are applied in well-differentiated, low-grade NENs, whereas cytotoxic chemotherapy is usually applied in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas. However, treatment options for patients with advanced or metastatic NENs are limited. Immunotherapy has provided new treatment approaches for many cancer types, including neuroendocrine tumors, but predictive biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of NENs have not been fully reported. By reviewing the literature and international congress abstracts, we summarize the current knowledge of ICIs, potential predicative biomarkers in the treatment of NENs, implications and efficacy of ICIs as well as biomarkers for NENs of gastroenteropancreatic system, lung NENs and Merkel cell carcinoma in clinical practice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Anh Thu Nguyen ◽  
Ki-young Kim

Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder; although some anti-inflammatory medicines for treating acne are available in a market, they have considerable side effects; therefore, new treatment options are needed. In the present study, among the 16 aqueous extracts of plants collected from Jeju Island in Korea which are used to test anti-inflammatory activity, B. davidii showed the strong decline of the proinflammatory cytokine expression against the inflammatory process caused by C. acnes in Human HaCaT keratinocyte cells. B. davidii downregulated the expression of 57% of COX-2, 41% of iNOS, and proinflammatory cytokines 29% of TNF-α, 32% of IL-1β, 21% of IL-6, and 35% of IL-8. Furthermore, B. davidii inhibited NF-κB and MAPK signaling cascades in keratinocytes that activated by toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) in response to C. acnes. Given those results, B. davidii is a potential agent to reduce the proinflammatory cytokine expression against C. acnes-induced inflammation and might provide an alternative to the current medications.


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