Echocardiography Advances Offer New Hope for Early Detection of Cardiac Amyloidosis
LONDON – A growing body of research highlights the critical role of echocardiography in the early and accurate diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis, a perhaps fatal disease often misdiagnosed in its initial stages. Recent studies, published in journals including J. Clin.Med. (2023, 13) and Echo. Res. Pract. (2024, 11:16), demonstrate refined echocardiographic techniques are improving detection rates and guiding more timely interventions for patients.
Cardiac amyloidosis occurs when abnormal proteins, amyloids, build up in the heart, causing it to stiffen and impair its ability to pump blood effectively. early diagnosis is paramount, as treatment options are limited and prognosis worsens rapidly with disease progression. Historically, the subtle early signs of cardiac amyloidosis were easily overlooked, leading to delayed or incorrect diagnoses. Though, advancements in echocardiography - a non-invasive imaging technique using sound waves – are now enabling cardiologists to identify telltale indicators of the disease with greater precision.
Researchers are focusing on specific echocardiographic features, including increased ventricular wall thickness, granular sparkling appearance of the myocardium, and diastolic dysfunction, to differentiate cardiac amyloidosis from other more common causes of heart failure. A study published in J. Clin. Med. (Duca et al., 2023) further validates the utility of speckle-tracking echocardiography in assessing global longitudinal strain, a sensitive marker of myocardial deformation, in identifying amyloidosis.
The improved diagnostic capabilities are particularly significant given the rising prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis, linked to an aging population and increased awareness. Approximately 100,000 to 500,000 people in the United States are estimated to have some form of amyloidosis, with a significant proportion affecting the heart. Early and accurate diagnosis, facilitated by advanced echocardiography, is now paving the way for targeted therapies and improved patient outcomes, including potential access to emerging disease-modifying treatments. Further research, as evidenced by work in Echo. Res. Pract. (Robinson et al., 2024), continues to refine these techniques and expand thier application in clinical practise.