Editorial Material
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Yiu Ming Khor, Sarah A. M. Cuddy, Vasvi Singh, Rodney H. Falk, Marcelo F. Di Carli, Sharmila Dorbala
Summary: Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is a frequently overlooked cause of heart failure with high morbidity and mortality. The emergence of novel therapies has increased interest in early and accurate diagnosis of ATTR-CA to facilitate timely administration of potentially life-saving pharmacologic therapy. SPECT imaging with technetium 99m (Tc-99m)-radiolabeled bone-seeking tracers is the most promising imaging modality with high specificity for the diagnosis of ATTR-CA, possibly eliminating the need for biopsy. This article provides a comprehensive review of the use of Tc-99m pyrophosphate (PYP), 3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid (DPD), and hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HMDP) for the diagnosis of ATTR-CA, presents a systematic approach to interpreting the scans, and highlights common pitfalls to ensure accurate interpretation of these images. The authors also discuss the appropriate use of endomyocardial biopsy and provide insights into quantification of Tc-99m-PYP/DPD/HMDP imaging.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Brett W. Sperry, Ashley Bock, Frank P. DiFilippo, Joseph P. Donnelly, Mazen Hanna, Wael A. Jaber
Summary: In this study, F18-florbetapir PET showed non-specific radiotracer uptake in the myocardium in patients with potential cardiac amyloidosis, with the highest values observed in a patient with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. Future studies should further investigate metabolic PET tracers and protocols for early detection of cardiac amyloidosis.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yuan-Kun (Aden) Wu, Cheng-Hsuan Tsai, Mao-Yuan Su, Chi-Chao Chao, Mei-Fang Cheng, Chia-Tung Shun, Sung-Tsang Hsieh, Yen-Hung Lin
Summary: Transthyretin cardiomyopathy is a common but often overlooked cause of heart failure, but recent advances in treatment options have brought it into focus. In this case study, a patient with hereditary transthyretin cardiomyopathy presented with heart failure and was treated with tafamidis. The use of multiple imaging techniques demonstrated reversed cardiac remodeling, highlighting the potential reversible effect of tafamidis on this specific variant of amyloidosis cardiomyopathy.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Hidenori Moriyama, Hiroki Kitakata, Jin Endo, Hidehiko Ikura, Motoaki Sano, Masayoshi Tasaki, Shunta Sakai, Mitsuharu Ueda, Keiichi Fukuda
Summary: This case highlights the importance of combining examinations and accurately interpreting the results for an accurate diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Lais L. R. Mesquita, Leonardo P. Mesquita, Danilo Wadt, Fabio R. P. Bruhn, Paulo C. Maiorka
Summary: The study found that Aβ deposition in the brains of aged dogs is positively correlated with age and is associated with senile plaques or CAA. There is no correlation between the area of Aβ plaques and age in dogs older than 8 years, but Aβ deposition in vessel walls is positively correlated with age. Aβ deposition as plaques or within vessel walls varies greatly among dogs of different breeds and sizes.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Barbara Withers, Georgia McCaughan, Christopher Hayward, Eugene Kotlyar, Andrew Jabbour, Stephen Rainer, Enzo De Angelis, Noemi Horvath, Sam Milliken, Ahmet Dogan, Peter MacDonald, John Moore
Summary: This study definitively characterizes the amyloid subtype in Australian patients with cardiac amyloidosis using mass spectrometry. The results show that AL amyloidosis is the most common subtype in the cohort, followed by ATTR. Identifying the correct subtype is crucial for making therapeutic decisions and providing accurate prognostic information.
INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Lily K. Stern, Michelle M. Kittleson
Summary: Cardiac amyloidosis is an underrecognized cause of heart failure. Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment include accurate noninvasive diagnostic modalities and effective therapies for both transthyretin and light chain amyloidosis. Early recognition and implementation of these advancements are crucial in minimizing morbidity and mortality.
CURRENT ONCOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Robert J. H. Miller, Sebastien Cadet, Darren Mah, Payam Pournazari, Denise Chan, Nowell M. Fine, Daniel S. Berman, Piotr J. Slomka
Summary: Quantitative assessment of myocardial radiotracer activity with CPA or VOI has high diagnostic accuracy for ATTR-CM, with CPA showing higher accuracy compared to Perugini score. In patients with ATTR-CM, CPA is associated with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and heart failure hospitalizations.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rikuya Yoshimura, Tomohiro Miyasaka, Satoru Funamoto, Takashi Saito, Takaomi C. C. Saido, Masaya Ikegawa, Nobuto Kakuda
Summary: The morphology of senile plaques in APP knock-in mice brain is influenced by the fixative used. Solid forms of senile plaques similar to those found in the brains of AD patients were observed in APP knock-in mice brain treated with formic acid, Davidson's fluid fixative, and Bouin's fluid fixative. A beta 42 was found as cored plaques, while A beta 38 accumulated around A beta 42.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Takuma Iwaya, Atsushi Okada, Emi Tateishi, Yasutoshi Ohta, Yoshiaki Morita, Keiko Ohta-Ogo, Chisato Izumi
Summary: This article reports a case of a 81-year-old Japanese woman with wild-type ATTR-CA, who presented with no ventricular hypertrophy and negative bone scintigraphy. The case highlights the importance of multimodality assessments for early diagnosis in patients with atypical cardiac morphologies and emphasizes the consideration of ATTR-CA in patients with non-cardiac manifestations of ATTR amyloidosis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karolina Wojtunik-Kulesza, Monika Rudkowska, Anna Orzel-Sajdlowska
Summary: In June 2021, the FDA approved a new drug for Alzheimer's disease called Aducanumab. This monoclonal antibody IgG1 targets amyloid beta, a main cause of Alzheimer's disease. Clinical trials have shown that Aducanumab can reduce amyloid beta and improve cognition. However, there is controversy surrounding its limitations, costs, and side effects. This review focuses on the mechanism of action of Aducanumab and discusses both the positive and negative aspects of the therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
M. Mahafuzur Rahman, Christofer Lendel
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is pathologically defined by the presence of A beta in extracellular senile plaques and tau in intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Besides A beta, other constituents are accumulated in the plaques, mainly focusing on extracellular proteins, which may contribute to disruptions in the protein network and lead to AD and copathology. This review provides an overview of extracellular proteins interacting with A beta and their potential roles in AD pathology, as well as methods to analyze the incorporation of proteins in plaques.
MOLECULAR NEURODEGENERATION
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Sharmila Dorbala, Mi-Ae Park, Sarah Cuddy, Vasvi Singh, Kyle Sullivan, Sirwoo Kim, Rodney H. Falk, Viviany R. Taqueti, Hicham Skali, Ron Blankstein, Camden Bay, Marie F. Kijewski, Marcelo F. Di Carli
Summary: Absolute quantitation of Tc-99m-pyrophosphate provides accurate assessment and diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis. The quantitative metrics show moderate positive correlations with LVMI (left ventricular mass index) and strong positive correlations with ECV (extracellular volume). Excellent intraobserver repeatability of the quantitative metrics was observed.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Wei-hao Li, Lin-hua Gan, Fang-fang Ma, Rui-li Feng, Jiao Wang, Yan-hui Li, Yang-yang Sun, Ya-jiang Wang, Xin Diao, Fei-yang Qian, Tie-qiao Wen
Summary: The study found that Dcf1 is involved in A beta aggregation, and inhibiting Dcf1 expression can reduce A beta deposition, thereby alleviating the decline in cognitive ability and memory loss in AD patients.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nobuhiro Tahara, Olivier Lairez, Jin Endo, Atsushi Okada, Mitsuharu Ueda, Tomonori Ishii, Yoshinobu Kitano, Hahn-Ey Lee, Eleonora Russo, Toru Kubo
Summary: The Tc-99m-labelled bone radiotracer scintigraphy is an effective diagnostic method for early detection of ATTR-CM, with high sensitivity and specificity. However, the adoption of this technique for early diagnosis in daily clinical practice by general cardiologists is still limited, highlighting the need for guidance and education in this area.