465 Unmasking the prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis in the real world: first insights from the phase 2 of active study, an Italian nationwide survey
Authors: Merlo Marco , Pagura Linda , Porcari Aldostefano , Cameli Matteo , Vergaro Giuseppe , Musumeci Beatrice , Biagini Elena , Canepa Marco , Crotti Lia , Imazio Massimo , Forleo Cinzia , Cappelli Francesco , Favale Stefano , Di Bella Gianluca , Dore Franca , Girardi Francesca , Tomasoni Daniela , Pavasini Rita , Rella Valeria , Palmiero Giuseppe , Caiazza Martina , Carella Maria Cristina , Guaricci Andrea Igoren , Branzi Giovanna , Caponetti Angelo Giuseppe , Saturi Giulia , La Malfa Giovanni , Merlo Andrea Carlo , Andreis Alessandro , Bruno Francesco , Longo Francesca , Rossi Maddalena , Varrà Giuseepe Guerino , Saro Riccardo , Di Ienno Luca , De Carli Giuseppe , Giacomin Elisa , Spini Valentina , Limongelli Giuseppe , Autore Camillo , Olivotto Iacopo , Badano Luigi , Parati Gianfranco , Perlini Stefano , Metra Marco , Emdin Michele , Rapezzi Claudio , Sinagra Gianfranco 
Published: December 2021

Aims

Clinicians needs to identify patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) at an early stage, due to the availability of disease modifying therapies. Some echocardiographic findings may rise the suspicion of CA, also in patients with mild or no symptoms, addressing second level diagnostic tests. To investigate the prevalence of CA in consecutive patients ≥55 years undergoing clinically indicated, routine transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) in Italy with echocardiographic signs suggestive of CA.

Methods and results

This is a prospective multicentric study conducted in Italy. It comprises two phases: 1) an observational phase consisting in a national survey on prevalence of possible echocardiographic red flags of CA in consecutive patients ≥55 years undergoing routine TTE (previously published) and 2) a CA diagnostic phase. Preliminary results of phase 2 are herein presented. Patients that in the phase 1 presented a CA-suggestive TTE (i.e. at least one red flag of CA in hypertrophic, non-dilated left ventricles) were re-evaluated for a cardiological visit. Those who consented to proceed in the study, underwent clinical evaluation, blood and urine tests and scintigraphy with bone tracer. Diagnosis of transthyretin related-CA (TTR-CA) was made in presence of Grades 2–3 Perugini uptake at scintigraphy and absence of monoclonal protein. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT04738266). Of the 5315 screened echocardiograms, 381 exams (7.2%) were classified as AC-suggestive. Two-hundred-twelve of the 381 patients with a CA-suggestive TTE underwent phase 2 study. Main reasons for the 169 non-entering patients into the phase 2 were death (n = 53) and refusal to participate (n = 85). Sixty-five of these 212 patients (31%; 17% considering also the 169 non-entering patients into the phase 2) had a diagnosis of CA. Finally, TTR-CA was diagnosed in 53 (25%) and AL-CA in 12 (5.7%) patients.

Conclusions

Among a cohort of consecutive unselected patients ≥55 years with echocardiographic findings suggestive of CA, the real prevalence of CA ranged from 17 up to 31%. Although TTR-CA was predominant, AL-CA was diagnosed in a significant amount of cases. TTE has a fundamental role in screening patients, raising the suspicion of CA and orienting diagnostic work-up for CA.