Management of Cardiac Amyloidosis With Concomitant Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
Vrinda Gupta1, Muhammed A Rahim1, Claire Brookmeyer2
1Department of Internal Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Insights
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) can be misdiagnosed as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Early screening for CA in HOCM patients is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Amyloidosis Research
Background:
- Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a severe heart failure cause with poor prognosis.
- Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in CA can mimic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).
Observation:
- Seven patients (4 AL-CM, 3 ATTR-CM) initially presented with HOCM between 2022-2024.
- Diagnostic delays for CA ranged from 0 to 34 months.
- AL-CM patients presented with advanced disease (Mayo stage III).
Findings:
- Six patients required modification of LVOT obstruction therapies.
- Three patients underwent septal reduction therapy.
- Management of CA with LVOT obstruction is complicated by medication intolerance and orthostatic hypotension.
Implications:
- Consider screening for CA in older adults presenting with HOCM.
- Improved diagnostic strategies are needed to reduce delays in CA diagnosis.
- Specialized management approaches are required for CA patients with LVOT obstruction.
Abstract:
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a highly morbid cause of heart failure with a poor untreated prognosis. The presence of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction may lead to misclassification of CA as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Between 2022 and 2024, 7 patients-4 with light- chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CM) and 3 with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis-initially presented with HOCM at our center (The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA). Diagnostic delay from HOCM to CA diagnosis ranged from 0 to 34 months. Patients with AL-CM had advanced disease (revised Mayo stage III) at the time of CA diagnosis. Six patients required reduction or withdrawal of therapy used for symptomatic LVOT obstruction, and 3 patients were referred for septal reduction therapy. Screening for CA should be considered in older adult patients presenting with HOCM. Symptomatic management of CA with LVOT obstruction is complex given patients' poor tolerance of negatively inotropic medications and the high burden of orthostatic hypotension in patients with CA.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Aortic Regurgitation III: Medical Management
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management


