As Amyloidosis Field Explodes, Physicians Need to Spot and Treat

Cardiac amyloidosis is not nearly as rare as one might think, and with effective treatments finally emerging in recent years, there’s a need to increase awareness of the condition to allow for earlier diagnosis and better patient outcomes. So say the editors behind an amyloidosis-focused special issue of JACC: CardioOncology, published Tuesday, and other researchers in the field interviewed by TCTMD.

“The field of amyloidosis has really seen an explosion in growth, and I think a lot of that is secondary to advancements in science,” said Bonnie Ky, MD (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia), editor-in-chief of the journal. She pointed to developments in diagnostic strategies—especially the use of noninvasive modalities rather than biopsy for identifying transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis—and “dramatic improvements in terms of treatment strategies that have really changed the game.”