Cardiac Amyloidosis Treatment

• Published in: Methodist DeBakey cardiovascular journal 2022, Vol.18 (2), p.59-72
• Main Authors: Stern, Lily K, Patel, Jignesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial - complications; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial - diagnosis; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial - therapy; Cardiomyopathies - diagnosis; Cardiomyopathies - etiology; Cardiomyopathies - therapy; Heart Diseases - complications; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Humans; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis - complications; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis - diagnosis; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis - therapy; Prealbumin - genetics; Prealbumin - therapeutic use; Review; Transplantation, Autologous - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1947-6108; 1947-6094; 1947-6108
• DOI: 10.14797/mdcvj.1050

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a restrictive cardiomyopathy with a traditionally poor prognosis. Until recently, CA treatment options were limited and consisted predominantly of managing symptoms and disease-related complications. However, the last decade has seen significant advances in disease-modifying therapies, increased awareness of CA, and improved diagnostic methods resulting in earlier diagnoses. In this review, we provide an overview of current and experimental treatments for the predominant types of CA: transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) and immunoglobulin light chain (AL)-mediated CA (AL-CA). The mainstay of AL-CA treatment is proteasome inhibitor-based chemotherapy with daratumumab and, when feasible, autologous stem cell transplantation. For ATTR-CA, the stabilizer tafamidis is the only US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment. However, promising novel therapies on the horizon target various points in the ATTR-CA amyloidogenic cascade. These include transthyretin gene ( silencing agents to prevent TTR formation, TTR tetramer stabilization and inhibition of oligomer aggregation to prevent fibril formation, anti-TTR fiber antibodies, and amyloid degradation. For end-stage CA, advanced interventions may need to be considered, including heart, heart-kidney, and, for hereditary ATTR-CA, heart-liver transplantation. Despite the evolution of treatment options, CA management remains complex due to patient frailty and therapeutic side effects or intolerance with advanced cardiac disease. This is particularly relevant for those with AL-CA, when active teamwork between the hematologist-oncologist and the cardiologist is critical for treatment success. Often, referral to an expert center is necessary for timely diagnosis, initiation of treatment, and participation in clinical trials.