Dr. Chafic Karam, professor of neurology from the University of Pennsylvania, provides an informative overview of how certain mutations of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis are being diagnosed in the central nervous system (CNS), such as the eye. It has been long believed that amyloidosis did not cross the blood brain barrier; however, evidence is showing otherwise. In addition, while most of the transthyretin protein originates in the liver, local production is found in other areas of the body such as the brain and retina. Dr. Karam will discuss how patients might present, the developing state of diagnostics, and treatments available. A slower developing symptom, with patients now living longer he predicts neurologists will see more and more patients with CNS and ocular involvement.
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Expert Insights: Timing and co-occurrence of red-flag symptoms prior to a diagnosis of light chain (AL) amyloidosis
Dr. Anita D’Souza, associate professor of hematology and medical oncology from the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses recent study findings regarding the timing and co-occurrence of symptoms within the three years prior to a diagnosis of light chain (AL) amyloidosis. Organized by organ system, Dr. D’Souza lists red-flag symptoms that patients may experience, typically presenting in varying combinations. Analyzing EHR records she sought to understand whether red-flag symptoms were indeed being identified, and how their occurrence would accumulate over time towards diagnosis.
Bottom line:
- This work confirms that patients are being diagnosed within the healthcare system with multiple red-flag diagnoses before AL amyloidosis is formally diagnosed.
- It is possible to catalog these diagnoses from electronic health records data and thus has the potential for earlier diagnosis of this complex disease.
- This study shows the timing and combinations between these diagnoses and lays the foundation to develop clinical algorithms aimed at earlier recognition of AL amyloidosis.
Expert Insights: Systemic Amyloidosis: You’ve Got to Think of IT to Diagnose IT
Dr. Mat Maurer, cardiologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, discusses the importance of developing a broad differential in order to diagnose this rare, potentially life-threatening, yet treatable disease. He shares a typical but unfortunate case of cardiac amyloidosis, along with statistics of misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis. He shares his view on the appropriate process for diagnosis based on Dr. David Eddy’s 1982 New England Journal of Medicine piece “The Art of Diagnosis” and the need to create a broad enough differential in order to consider less common diseases such as systemic amyloidosis. Dr. Maurer lists common reasons for missing diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis all clinicians should be aware of, punctuated by his concluding point … “The Key to Correct Treatment is Diagnosis, Diagnosis, and Diagnosis.” It’s simple … you cannot treat what has not been diagnosed.
This is a MUST VIEW video for clinicians who diagnose patients, regardless of sub-specialty.
Expert Insights: The Systemic Amyloidoses vs. Parkinson’s vs. Alzheimer’s
Current medical education on amyloid diseases is 25 years old and materially outdated, punctuated by rapid advancement in the last five years. Hear from renowned Dr. Jeff Kelly from Scripps Research, developer of ATTR drug tafamidis, about the current biology and how amyloid diseases such as the Systemic Amyloidoses (ATTR and AL), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are today believed to be more similar than different.
For those interested in learning more about neurodegenerative diseases driven by amyloid protein misfolding, below is an excellent video from May 17, 2024 by Dr. Kelly.
Expert Insights: AL Amyloidosis: Symptoms, Diagnostics and Challenges
Dr. Gurbakhash Kaur, co-director of the amyloidosis program at UT Southwestern Medical Center, opens with a brief overview of the disease. Focusing on AL Amyloidosis, she shares how heterogeneously this disease presents – it can be very different from patient to patient, amplifying the diagnostic challenge. Symptoms may also be more commonly associated with other diseases. For example, proteinuria is often associated with diabetes and hypertension. However, clinicians should look at the bigger picture to be sure, as amyloidosis can also be a cause. Dr. Kaur reviews what should be in a basic workup when one has a clinical suspicion for amyloidosis. Once tested positive for amyloidosis, a second necessary step is to determine the type of amyloidosis. This is critical as it will determine the appropriate course of treatment. In closing Dr. Kaur summarizes the goals of treatment, what is available today, and what drugs are in clinical trials, giving lots of hope to the AL amyloidosis community.
Diagnosing Amyloidosis: From Cardiology to Neurology – When to Think About Amyloidosis
Dr. J. Mark Sloan, Associate Professor of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He is a member of the BU Amyloidosis Center, the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research at BU, and the program director for the hematology/oncology fellowship at Boston University. In this video, developed exclusively for the Amyloidosis Speakers Bureau, he provides a comprehensive clinical overview of diagnosing amyloidosis, from cardiology to neurology, and when to think about amyloidosis.
AL and ATTR Amyloidosis: Recognition and Diagnosis — The Key to Successful Treatment
Dr. Heather Landau, Associate Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering, provides a comprehensive clinical overview of amyloidosis. Spanning recognition and diagnosis – the key to successful treatment.
Expert Insights: Amyloidosis – A Brief Clinical Overview
Dr. Sarah S. Lee, Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology, at the City of Hope, provides a brief yet comprehensive clinical overview of amyloidosis. In this video Dr. Lee discusses the breadth of amyloidosis, the wide range of symptom presentations, and which organs are typically involved. Focusing on AL (light chain) and TTR (transthyretin) types, she then goes through a diagnostic workup to arrive at a diagnosis, stressing the importance of typing once the presence of amyloid has been confirmed. Concluding her overview, Dr. Lee describes treatments available and how they impact patient prognosis and quality of life.
Cardiac Amyloidosis – AL and ATTR: Two Different Conditions
Dr. Mazen Hanna, cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic and co-director of the Amyloid Program, explains how cardiac amyloidosis can originate from two very different types of amyloidosis: AL or ATTR. Dr. Hanna illustrates how physicians can identify cardiac amyloidosis and look to different diagnostic work-ups to understand whether the issues are due to AL or ATTR amyloidosis. These two conditions are treated differently and have different prognoses, emphasizing the importance of understanding the type of amyloidosis involved.
Orthopedic Manifestations in Amyloidosis
Dr. Mazen Hanna, cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic and co-director of the Amyloid Program, discusses orthopedic manifestations in amyloidosis. Increasingly, such manifestations are known to be associated with multiple orthopedic pathologies and recognized as a missed opportunity for earlier diagnosis of transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. He recounts the development of a pioneering study connecting carpal tunnel release surgery and amyloidosis. Dr. Hanna concludes this presentation with patient cases and the importance of biopsying tenosynovial tissue from CTR surgery; it’s easy, quick, and inexpensive.
