Breaking Barriers in ATTR-CM: Focusing in on Emerging Therapies - Episode 6
Diagnostic Approach to ATTR-CM
Panelists discuss how early clinical suspicion, genetic testing, cardiac biomarkers, and imaging techniques are crucial for diagnosing transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), while also highlighting challenges such as common misdiagnoses and delayed diagnoses, which can significantly impact patient outcomes and quality of life.
Summary for Physicians: Diagnostic Approach and Challenges in ATTR-CM
Diagnostic Approach to ATTR-CM:
- Clinical suspicion: Early recognition is critical, particularly in patients with unexplained heart failure, arrhythmias, or extracardiac symptoms such as carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal stenosis, and trigger fingers.
- Genetic testing: Identifying mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene can confirm hereditary transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).
- Cardiac biomarkers: Elevated NT-proBNP and cardiac troponins can suggest cardiac involvement.
- Echocardiography and cardiac MRI: These imaging techniques help identify signs of restrictive cardiomyopathy, abnormal left ventricular wall thickness, and amyloid deposits.
- Tissue biopsy: In some cases, a biopsy (eg, from fat or cardiac tissue) may be performed to confirm amyloid deposition through Congo red staining.
- Scintigraphy: Technetium-labeled imaging agents, such as bone scintigraphy, can be used to detect cardiac amyloid deposits.
Challenges in Diagnosing ATTR-CM:
- Common misdiagnoses and underdiagnosis: ATTR-CM is often misdiagnosed as other forms of heart failure or restrictive cardiomyopathy. It may be mistaken for conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, or idiopathic heart failure, especially in older patients.
- Delayed diagnosis: The slow progression of symptoms and their overlap with more common conditions lead to a significant delay in diagnosis. This can result in advanced disease before appropriate treatment is initiated.
Impact on Patient’s Quality of Life:
- Delayed diagnosis: A late diagnosis can result in worsening heart failure, arrhythmias, and irreversible organ damage, leading to a poor prognosis and diminished quality of life.
- Symptoms: Progressive symptoms such as heart failure, arrhythmias, and extracardiac manifestations (eg, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger fingers) can severely affect daily activities, mobility, and overall well-being.
- Psychological impact: The uncertainty due to delayed diagnosis can cause anxiety and frustration for both patients and caregivers.
Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to improving patient outcomes, providing appropriate treatments, and enhancing the patient’s quality of life.
