Lore Schrutka

Aims The pathophysiological hallmark of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is the deposition of amyloid within the myocardium. Consequently, extracellular volume (ECV) of affected patients increases. However, studies on ECV progression over time are lacking. We aimed to investigate the progression of ECV and its prognostic impact in CA patients. Methods and results Serial cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examinations, including ECV quantification, were performed in consecutive CA patients. Between 2012 and 2021, 103 CA patients underwent baseline and follow-up CMR, including ECV quantification. Median ECVs at baseline of the total (n = 103), transthyretin [(ATTR) n = 80], and [light chain (AL) n = 23] CA cohorts were 48.0%, 49.0%, and 42.6%, respectively. During a median period of 12 months, ECV increased significantly in all cohorts [change (Δ) +3.5% interquartile range (IQR): −1.9 to +6.9, P < 0.001; Δ +3.5%, IQR: −2.0 to +6.7, P < 0.001; and Δ +3.5%, IQR: −1.6 to +9.1, P = 0.026]. Separate analyses for treatment-naïve (n = 21) and treated (n = 59) ATTR patients revealed that the median change of ECV from baseline to follow-up was significantly higher among untreated patients (+5.7% vs. +2.3%, P = 0.004). Survival analyses demonstrated that median change of ECV was a predictor of outcome [total: hazard ratio (HR): 1.095, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.047–1.0145, P < 0.001; ATTR: HR: 1.073, 95% CI: 1.015–1.134, P = 0.013; and AL: HR: 1.131, 95% CI: 1.041–1.228, P = 0.003]. Conclusion The present study supports the use of serial ECV quantification in CA patients, as change of ECV was a predictor of outcome and could provide information in the evaluation of amyloid-specific treatments.