In vivo quantification of amyloid burden in TTR-related cardiac amyloidosis.

Abstract

Cardiac transthyretin-related (ATTR) amyloidosis is a severe cardiomyopathy for which therapeutic approaches are currently under development. Because non-invasive imaging techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography are non-specific, the diagnosis of ATTR amyloidosis is still based on myocardial biopsy. Thus, diagnosis of ATTR amyloidosis is difficult in patients refusing myocardial biopsy. Furthermore, myocardial biopsy does not allow 3D-mapping and quantification of myocardial ATTR amyloid. In this report we describe a 99mTc-DPD-based molecular imaging technique for non-invasive single-step diagnosis, three-dimensional mapping and semiquantification of cardiac ATTR amyloidosis in a patient with suspected amyloid heart disease who initially rejected myocardial biopsy. This report underlines the clinical value of SPECT-based nuclear medicine imaging to enable non-invasive diagnosis of cardiac ATTR amyloidosis, particularly in patients rejecting biopsy.

• Authors: Alexander Marco Kollikowski, Florian Kahles, Svetlana Kintsler, Sandra Hamada, Sebastian Reith, Ruth Knüchel, Christoph Röcken, Felix Manuel Mottaghy, Nikolaus Marx, Mathias Burgmaier
• Journal: Intractable & rare diseases research (Intractable Rare Dis Res) Vol. 6 Issue 4 Pg. 291-294 (Nov 2017) ISSN: 2186-3644 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 29259858 (Publication Type: Journal Article)