Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis as Diagnosed by 99mTc-PYP Scanning in Patients with Acute Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Crit Pathw Cardiol. 2019 Dec;18(4):195-199. doi: 10.1097/HPC.0000000000000183.

Abstract

Transthyretin amyloid deposition is present in 17% of autopsies of patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Technetium-pyrophosphate scintigraphy (Tc-PYP) is sensitive and specific to diagnose cardiac transthyretin amyloid deposition (ATTR). The prevalence of ATTR by Tc-PYP was evaluated along with echocardiographic parameters in patients with HFpEF. One-hundred consecutive patients with HFpEF, who had Tc-PYP, were retrospectively evaluated. Echocardiographic variables were analyzed to compare patients with positive versus negative ATTR infiltration. Myocardial ATTR was present in 19% of patients. Individuals with ATTR were older with a mean age of 82 ± 7 versus 75 ± 13 years (P = 0.03), had increased left ventricular hypertrophy with the interventricular septum measuring 1.6 (IQR, 1.4-2.0) versus 1.4 (IQR, 1.3-1.6) cm (P = 0.002), had a greater mean left ventricular mass index of 160 ± 50 g/m versus 131 ± 44 g/m (P = 0.01), and a reduced global longitudinal strain measuring -11% (IQR, -9 to -12) versus -12% (IQR, -10 to -16), P = 0.04. The prevalence of ATTR myocardial deposition demonstrated by Tc-PYP in patients with HFpEF is comparable to that of autopsy studies. It is more common in older patients, with increased left ventricular hypertrophy and reduced global longitudinal strain.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / epidemiology
  • Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / physiopathology
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cardiomyopathies / epidemiology
  • Cardiomyopathies / physiopathology
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Failure / epidemiology
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Stroke Volume*
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate

Supplementary concepts

  • Amyloidosis, Hereditary, Transthyretin-Related