Cardiology

Detailed neurological and cardiac investigations of transthyretin gene mutation carriers are crucial for early detection and treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, according to a new study. Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by pathogenic transthyretin (TTR) gene variants. It mostly affects the peripheral nerves and heart. Screening and monitoring TTR gene...

Slightly compromised kinetic stability of the TTRA81V mutation in hereditary transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy may indicate late-onset and gradual progression of the disease, according to a recent case study. The various transthyretin (TTR) mutations in cardiac amyloidosis bear remarkably different biochemical and biophysical properties, resulting in diverse clinical manifestations. Characterizing these properties can aid in predicting...

Changes in periodontal disease status impact the risk of atrial fibrillation, according to a recent study. Periodontal disease can activate systemic inflammation, leading to the development of various cardiovascular disorders, including atrial fibrillation (AF) and may be a significant modifiable risk factor for AF. There is a lack of large-scale studies examining the relationship between...

A new study finds that individual characteristics are important predictors of health-related quality-of-life in atrial fibrillation patients. Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects 3% of the global population. Patients with AF have a significantly lower health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) than the general population and patients with other cardiac diseases. Studies linking AF symptoms to HRQoL of these patients...

Younger age at a-fib onset linked to increased risks of all-cause and vascular dementia, Alzheimer disease   Earlier onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risk of developing all-cause dementia, vascular dementia (VD), and Alzheimer disease (AD), according to a study published online Nov. 8 in JAMA Network Open. Wenya Zhang, from the Chinese...

A recent study examined how frequently the V122I genetic variant leads to heart failure in older Black individuals. This research sought to identify how specific genes can influence the development and presentation of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) remains an underdiagnosed cause of heart failure among older individuals. The V122I variant, associated with...

Cardiac amyloidosis, an underdiagnosed cause of heart failure, may present with persistent symptoms even under optimal medical therapy. Early diagnosis and novel treatments may offer hope for better outcomes. Cardiac amyloidosis is a severe form of restrictive cardiomyopathy that can elude diagnosis. Persistent heart failure symptoms may be a red flag for amyloidosis in the...

A recent study evaluated the prevalence of amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy in elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis. The results provide insights into the potential implications for those undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis may also present with amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy. Echocardiography and invasive hemodynamics may help detect coexisting pathologies. Concurrent...

Recommendations developed for reducing burden of stroke, including by implanting prevention strategies Stroke mortality is projected to increase to 9.7 million deaths by 2050, according to a report issued by the World Stroke Organization-Lancet Neurology Commission on Stroke and published online Oct. 9 in The Lancet Neurology. Noting that the incidence of stroke is increasing in young...