New, More Accessible Staging System Developed to Predict Survival for Patients With Light Chain Amyloidosis

A new staging system developed with a more accessible test to predict the chance of survival in patients living with light chain (AL) amyloidosis. Led by researchers from the Amyloidosis Center at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC), the test incorporates cardiac biomarkers to accurately identify the involvement of the heart in the disease, allowing doctors to predict outcomes of patients with AL amyloidosis.

AL Amyloidosis is a rare condition caused when bone marrow produces abnormal antibodies that can’t be broken down and are deposited in tissues, interfering with organ function. Survival for patients with AL amyloidosis is related to cardiac involvement, making cardiac biomarkers an accurate measure for staging for risk stratification.