End-stage cardiac amyloidosis is an often-fatal disease that affects the ability of the heart to function properly. In recent years, heart transplantation has emerged as a viable option for patients with end-stage cardiac amyloidosis. A new study led by Dr Martin J. Kraus has shown that heart transplantation has become a feasible treatment option for end-stage patients. Cardiac amyloidosis and transplantation: in this article find out all the latest news on this subject.
Survival rates and promising results
Dr Martin J. Kraus, from the Division of Cardiology at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and colleagues analyzed data from 115 patients who underwent heart transplantation for cardiac amyloidosis between November 1987 and May 2020.
The results were published in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation.
The median survival after heart transplantation was 9.7 years for patients who underwent the procedure between 2008 and 2020, compared with 1.8 years for those who underwent the procedure between 1987 and 2007.
Since then, the results are even more promising and Dr Martin J. Kraus comments: “Survival following heart transplant has drastically improved since 2008 for amyloidosis patients due to new treatment options […]. Amyloidosis patients in a worse general condition, […] seem to have a worse outcome.”
Doctor’s advice for patients with cardiac amyloidosis
Dr Kraus told the journal Healio: “Cardiac amyloidosis patients should be referred early to a specialized center. When the disease comes to an advanced stage, a heart transplantation should always be considered as an important treatment option.” However, patient selection and management must be properly established in order to improve post-transplant outcomes. Additionally, close follow-up and management after transplantation are essential to ensure that patients maintain their excellent outcomes.
In the future, larger studies will be needed to find more predictors of outcome, especially for patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (TTMAC) and ultimately improve patient selection for heart transplantation. According to Kraus: “This is crucial to improve outcomes after heart transplant in a situation where the number of donors is limited”.
Dr. Martin J. Kraus’s study provides valuable insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of heart transplantation as a treatment option for end-stage cardiac amyloidosis. While further research is needed to confirm these findings, the study’s results suggest that heart transplantation can offer hope for patients with this disease. With careful patient selection and management, heart transplantation can provide excellent outcomes and significantly improve patients’ quality of life.
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