18-Month effect of tafamidis on the progression of cardiac amyloidosis evaluated according to a multiparametric expert consensus tool.

BACKGROUND

A recently published expert consensus document recommended a multiparametric tool to monitor cardiac disease progression in patients with transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA). We aimed to evaluate the effect of the transthyretin stabiliser drug, tafamidis, by applying this integrative tool.

METHODS

We retrospectively applied a multiparametric tool in a group of ATTR-CA patients who were given tafamidis between the years 2019-2021 and were followed in a dedicated clinic. We used three pre-specified follow-up timepoints: at 6, 12 and 18 months.

RESULTS

We included 16 ATTR-CA patients (wild-type ( = 14) and mutant ( = 2)). The median age at the initiation of tafamidis was 76 (IQR 70, 84) years and 75% of study patients were classified as NYHA functional class 2 or 3. All patients had elevated levels of high-sensitive troponin T (median 92 (IQR 63, 115) ng/L) and NT-proBNP (median 3784 (2290, 8773) pg/mL). At the end of 18-month follow-up, two patients have suffered from high-grade atrioventricular block and required permanent pacing, and one patient had heart-failure-related admission. Twenty-five percent and 50% of patients were classified as NYHA Class 1 at the initiation of tafamidis and at 18-months treatment, respectively. No patient was defined with disease progression at 6- or 12-month follow up; however, one patient (14%) was defined with a deteriorated disease status at 18-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on a multiparametric tool, the use of tafamidis promoted disease stabilisation in the majority of patients at 18-month follow-up. Further study should focus on monitoring disease improvement in patients with ATTR-CA.