| 1. |
- Ihne-Schubert, Sandra Michaela, et al.
(författare)
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Cardio-Hepatic Interaction in Cardiac Amyloidosis
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Medicine. - 2077-0383. ; 13:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Congestion is associated with poor prognosis in cardiac amyloidosis (CA). The cardio-hepatic interaction and the prognostic impact of secondary liver affection by cardiac congestion in CA are poorly understood and require further characterisation. Methods: Participants of the amyloidosis cohort study AmyKoS at the Interdisciplinary Amyloidosis Centre of Northern Bavaria with proven transthyretin (ATTR-CA) and light chain CA (AL-CA) underwent serial work-up including laboratory tests, echocardiography, and in-depth hepatic assessment by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and 13C-methacetin breath test. Results: In total, 74 patients with AL-CA (n = 17), ATTR-CA (n = 26) and the controls (n = 31) were analysed. ATTR-CA patients showed decreased microsomal liver function expressed by maximal percentage of dose rate (PDRpeak) related to hepatic congestion. Reduced PDRpeak in AL-CA could result from altered pharmacokinetics due to changed hepatic blood flow. Liver stiffness as a combined surrogate of chronic liver damage and congestion was identified as a predictor of all-cause mortality. Statistical modelling of the cardio-hepatic interaction revealed septum thickness, NT-proBNP and PDRpeak as predictors of liver stiffness in both CA subtypes; dilatation of liver veins and the fibrosis score FIB-4 were only significant for ATTR-CA. Conclusions: Non-invasive methods allow us to characterise CA-associated hepatic pathophysiology. Liver stiffness might be promising for risk stratification in CA.
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| 2. |
- Ihne-Schubert, Sandra Michaela, et al.
(författare)
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Incremental prognostic utility of congestion markers in cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis
- 2024
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Ingår i: Clinical Research in Cardiology. - 1861-0684.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background/aims: Congestion is prognostically relevant in cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), but whether congestion has an incremental prognostic value beyond the well-established, congestion-sensitive NT-proBNP is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to comparatively evaluate the prognostic utility of several congestion surrogates over NT-proBNP. Methods: We estimated hazard ratios by Cox proportional hazards regressions with time-varying covariates from a panel data set of the local amyloidosis cohort study AmyKoS. Different models were compared by using chi(χ)2-statistics measuring overall model significance. Results/conclusion: 131 ATTR-CA patients (wild-type 84.0%, hereditary 6.9%, without genetic testing 9.2%; median age 78.7 (quartiles 73.3, 82.1) years; 85.5% male) with 566 observations across a median follow-up of 38.2 (30.6; 48.2) months were analyzed. 83.2% received disease-modifying treatment; 20.6% participated concurrently in placebo-controlled gene silencer trials. Information on congestion improved biomarker-driven risk stratification and identified patients at the highest risk. Echocardiographic congestion markers performed better than clinical findings and daily diuretic use/dosage. Relevant adjusters were daily diuretic dosage, disease-modifying treatment, eGFR, and right atrial volume. NT-proBNP and the tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity (tr-vmax) provided an easy-to-use stratification with overall model performance similar to NAC and Mayo staging systems. Further analyses are necessary for validation and to identify the optimal cut points of the congestion markers. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)
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| 3. |
- Ihne-Schubert, Sandra Michaela, et al.
(författare)
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Liver stiffness as a prognostic parameter and tool for risk stratification in advanced cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis
- 2024
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Ingår i: Clinical Research in Cardiology. - 1861-0684.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In light of increasing therapeutic options, risk stratification of advanced cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is gaining clinical importance to avoid ineffective treatments. Liver stiffness as a marker of hypervolemia and hepatic congestion might predict mortality in advanced ATTR-CA and allow to identify patients at highest risk. Methods: Proven ATTR-CA patients underwent repeated vibration-controlled transient elastography (VTCE) and standardized serial workup within the local amyloidosis cohort study AmyKoS. Spearman correlation analyses and Cox regressions were performed to evaluate the prognostic value. Results: 41 patients with ATTR-CA were included with median age of 76.6 (55.1–89.1) years, of which 90.2% were male and > 92% wild-type ATTR-CA. In total, 85 VCTE examinations were performed. Median follow-up was 43.7 (2.4–75.6) months; 26.8% of the patients died. At the first clinical evaluation, median left ventricular (LV) absolute global longitudinal strain (GLS) was 11.4 (5.2–19.0) % and median liver stiffness was 6.3 (2.4–22.9) kPa, both significantly correlated with mortality. NT-proBNP possessed statistically significant predictive power in ATTR-CA with more preserved LV function (absolute GLS ≥ 10), whereas stiffness seemed to be more discriminative for ATTR-CA with absolute GLS < 10. The use of alternative congestion surrogates such as liver vein dilation and tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity (tr-vmax) showed congruent results. Conclusion: Liver stiffness shows prognostic value regarding all-cause mortality and allows risk stratification in advanced ATTR-CA, particularly in those with markedly impaired longitudinal LV function. These results are transferable to other congestion surrogates.
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| 4. |
- Ihne-Schubert, Sandra Michaela, et al.
(författare)
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Needs of amyloidosis patients and their care providers : design & first results of the AMY-NEEDS research and care program
- 2024
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Ingår i: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. - 1750-1172. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Amyloidosis represents a rare yet heterogeneous multi-system disorder associated with a grave prognosis and an enormous psycho-emotional strain on patients, relatives, and caregivers. We here present the overall study design and first results of AMY-NEEDS, a research program aiming to systematically assess the needs of patients suffering from amyloidosis, their relatives and health care professionals (HCPs), and develop an amyloidosis-specific care approach. Methods: AMY-NEEDS uses a mixed-methods approach including focus groups (step 1), a questionnaire-based broad evaluation within the local amyloidosis patient collective (step 2), and the development of a needs-adapted care concept (step 3). Results: Seven patients, six relatives and five HCPs participated in the focus groups (step 1). At the time of diagnosis, patients expressed the need of a smooth diagnostic process, possibly enhanced through improved awareness and better education of local HCPs. There was a strong wish to receive well-founded information and comprehensive support including companionship during medical visits, experience the feeling of being understood, find trust in that “everything possible” is being done, and have effortless access to centre staff. In the course of the disease, patients favoured that the specialized centre should manage treatment coordination, monitoring and psychosocial support. The interface between centre and local HCPs was regarded of particular importance, requiring further investigation into its optimal design. Conclusions: Patients with amyloidosis express particular needs that should appropriately be considered in specifically tailored care concepts.
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| 5. |
- Ihne-Schubert, Sandra Michaela, et al.
(författare)
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Single German centre experience with patient journey and care-relevant needs in amyloidosis : The German AMY-NEEDS research and care program
- 2024
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - 1932-6203. ; 19:5 May
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Amyloidosis is a rare multi-system disorder associated with frequently delayed diagnosis, enormous disease burden and psychosocial distress. Methods Systematic assessment of needs was performed by a subtype-spanning questionnairebased survey within the AMY-NEEDS research and care program. Results 118 patients with proven amyloidosis (62.7% ATTR, 22.0% AL, 15.3% other forms) were included in August 2020 until February 2021 (mean age 71.2 ±11.3 years; 30% women). The median diagnostic delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 9.0 (range: 2.5; 33.0) months. Local health care providers (HCPs) play a central role on the way to diagnosis. Diagnosis itself typically requires a clinical but not necessarily a university setting. In the treatment phase, the focus moves to the amyloidosis centre as primary contact and coordinator, with general practitioners (GPs) acting predominantly as a contact point in crisis and link to additional services. About half of patients reported impaired quality of life and one third suffering from anxiety and depressed mood, respectively. The majority of patients talk about their concerns with close caregivers and local HCPs. Advance care planning is a relevant, yet insufficiently met need. Conclusion The journey of patients with amyloidotic disease, their contact partners and needs at different stages were characterized in detail within the German health care system. An amyloidosis- specific care concept has to master the multitude of interfaces connecting the numerous treatment providers involved with the amyloidosis centre and GPs as key players. Telemedical approaches could be a promising and well-accepted option allowing optimal coordination and communication.
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| 6. |
- Ihne-Schubert, Sandra M., et al.
(författare)
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Vector autoregression : Useful in rare diseases?—Predicting organ response patterns in a rare case of secondary AA amyloidosis
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - 1932-6203. ; 18:8 August
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Statistical analyses of clinical data are a cornerstone in understanding pathomechanisms of disorders. In rare disorders, cross-sectional datasets of sufficient size are usually not available. Taking AA amyloidosis as an example of a life-threatening rare disorder resulting from of uncontrolled chronic inflammation, we propose techniques from time series analysis to predict organ response to treatment. The advantage of time-series analysis is that it solely relies on temporal variation and therefore allows analyzing organ response to treatment even when the cross-sectional dimension is small. Methods The joint temporal interdependence of inflammatory activity and organ response was modelled multivariately using vector autoregression (VAR) based on a unique 4.5 year spanning data set of routine laboratory, imaging data (e.g., 18F-Florbetaben-PET/CT) and functional investigations of a 68-year-old patient with multi-organ involvement of AA amyloidosis due to ongoing inflammatory activity of a malignant paraganglioma in stable disease for >20 years and excellent response to tocilizumab). Results VAR analysis showed that alterations in inflammatory activity forecasted alkaline phosphatase (AP). AP levels, but not inflammatory activity at the previous measurement time point predicted proteinuria. Conclusion We demonstrate the feasibility and value of time series analysis for obtaining clinically reliable information when the rarity of a disease prevents conventional prognostic modelling approaches. We illustrate the comparative utility of blood, functional and imaging markers to monitor the development and regression of AA amyloidosis.
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| 7. |
- Machowicz, Rafal, et al.
(författare)
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Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for adult HLH : a retrospective study by the chronic malignancies and inborn errors working parties of EBMT
- 2022
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Ingår i: Bone Marrow Transplantation. - : Springer Nature. - 0268-3369 .- 1476-5365. ; 57:5, s. 817-823
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH; hemophagocytic syndrome) is a rare syndrome of potentially fatal, uncontrolled hyperinflammation. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is indicated in primary, recurrent or progressive HLH, but information about its outcomes in the adult population is limited. We obtained data about 87 adult (>= 18 years of age) patients retrospectively reported to the EBMT. The median survival time was 13.9 months. The three and five-year overall survival (OS) was 44% (95% CI 33-54%). Among 39 patients with a follow-up longer than 15 months, only three died. Relapse rate was 21% (95% CI 13-30%), while NRM reached 36% (95% CI 25-46%). Younger patients (<30 years of age) had better prognosis, with an OS of 59% (95% CI 45-73%) at three and five years vs 23% (95% CI 8-37%) for older ones. No difference in survival between reduced and myeloablative conditioning was found. To our knowledge, this is the largest report of adult HLH patients who underwent allo-HSCT. Patients who survive the first period after this procedure can expect a long disease-free survival. Both reduced intensity and myeloablative conditioning have therapeutic potential in adult HLH.
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