Implications of Extra-cardiac Disease in Patient Selection for Heart Transplantation: Considerations in Cardiac Amyloidosis

Disease-modifying therapies in both light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis have improved patient functional status and survival. Conceivably, as heart failure may progress despite amyloid therapies, more patients may be considered for heart transplantation. In earlier eras, extra-cardiac amyloid...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lynn Raju Punnoose, Hasan Siddiqi, Julie Rosenthal, Michelle Kittleson, Ronald Witteles, Kevin Alexander
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Radcliffe Medical Media 2023-01-01
Series:Cardiac Failure Review
Online Access:https://www.cfrjournal.com/articleindex/cfr.2022.24
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Disease-modifying therapies in both light chain and transthyretin amyloidosis have improved patient functional status and survival. Conceivably, as heart failure may progress despite amyloid therapies, more patients may be considered for heart transplantation. In earlier eras, extra-cardiac amyloid deposits significantly reduced post-heart transplant patient survival and functional status compared to the non-amyloid population. In the modern era, transplant centres have reported improved outcomes in amyloidosis as patient selection has grown more stringent. Importantly, systematic candidate evaluation should assess the degree of extra-cardiac involvement, the effectiveness of disease-modifying therapies and downstream effects on patients’ nutrition and frailty. This review outlines such an overall approach while also considering that organ-specific selection criteria may vary between individual transplant centres. A methodical approach to patient evaluation will promote better understanding of the prevalence and severity of extra-cardiac disease in amyloidosis patients referred for heart transplantation and of any disparities in decision outcomes in this population.
ISSN:2057-7540
2057-7559