Use of Technetium-99m-Pyrophosphate Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography in Monitoring Therapeutic Changes of Eplontersen in Patients With Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Jan 16;13(2):e030512. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.030512. Epub 2024 Jan 12.

Abstract

Background: Hereditary transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (hATTR-CM) is a progressive and fatal disease. Recent evidence indicates that bone scintigraphy may serve as a tool to monitor the effectiveness of hATTR-CM treatment. The objective of this study was to examine how eplontersen therapy influences the semiquantitative uptake of technetium-99m-pyrophosphate in individuals diagnosed with hATTR-CM.

Methods and results: We retrospectively analyzed a prospective cohort from the NEURO-TTRansform trial, including patients with hATTR-CM receiving eplontersen (45 mg/4 weeks). A control group comprised patients with hATTR-CM who had not received eplontersen, inotersen, tafamidis, or patisiran. Technetium-99m-pyrophosphate single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography was conducted at baseline and during follow-up. Thirteen patients with hATTR-CM were enrolled, with 6 receiving eplontersen and 7 serving as the control group. The median follow-up time was 544 days. The eplontersen group exhibited a significant decrease in volumetric heart and lung ratio (3.774 to 2.979, P=0.028), whereas the control group showed no significant change (4.079 to 3.915, P=0.237). Patients receiving eplontersen demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in volumetric heart and lung ratio compared with the control group (-20.7% versus -3.4%, P=0.007).

Conclusions: The volumetric heart and lung ratio used to quantify technetium-99m-pyrophosphate uptake showed a significant reduction subsequent to eplontersen treatment in individuals diagnosed with hATTR-CM. These findings suggest the potential efficacy of eplontersen in treating hATTR-CM and highlight the value of technetium-99m-pyrophosphate single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography as a tool for monitoring therapeutic effectiveness.

Keywords: 99mTc‐pyrophosphate; eplontersen; hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis; single‐photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial* / diagnostic imaging
  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial* / drug therapy
  • Cardiomyopathies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiomyopathies* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Prealbumin / genetics
  • Prealbumin / therapeutic use
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Prealbumin
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate