The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) has published a new expert consensus document to keep clinicians up to date on the most recent cardiac amyloidosis treatment options.
Cardiac amyloidosis occurs when misfolded proteins deposit into myocardial tissue—its emerging as an undiagnosed cause of heart failure and mortality. The guidelines reflect improved methods and management techniques along with new treatment options, including novel imaging methods.
Nine cardiovascular societies joined ASNC in crafting the "ASNC/AHA/ASE/EANM/HFSA/ISA/SCMR/SNMMI Expert Consensus Recommendations For Multimodality Imaging in Cardiac Amyloidosis.” The full guidelines, created by 26 experts, were published in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology.
"For the first time, imaging experts conferred with heart failure experts and amyloidosis experts to provide guidance on standardized imaging techniques, diagnostic criteria, and appropriate utilization of echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and radionuclide imaging in cardiac amyloidosis,” said Sharmila Dorbala, MD, MPH, director of nuclear cardiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Jamieson Bourque, MD, MHS, director of nuclear cardiology at the University of Virginia, in a prepared statement.
The document is divided into two parts: “evidence base and standardized methods of imaging” and “diagnostic criteria and appropriate utilization.”
“We anticipate that these expert multisocietal consensus recommendations on multimodality imaging in cardiac amyloidosis will standardize the diagnosis and improve the management of this highly morbid and underdiagnosed disease," the authors wrote.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.