Open AccessOrthotopic Heart Transplant Facilitated Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Light-Chain Amyloidosis
Author(s) -
Rammurti T. Kamble
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
methodist debakey cardiovascular journal
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1947-6094
pISSN - 1947-6108
DOI - 10.14797/mdcj-8-3-17
Subject(s) - medicine , medline , medical education , law , political science
Initial manifestations of light-chain amyloidosis (AL) are variable and often result in missed or delayed diagnosis. Survival in AL patients depends mainly on the severity of cardiac involvement. Dominant stage-III cardiac involvement due to primary systemic amyloidosis precludes effective AL treatment and is associated with an average survival of only 3-4 months. The following paper discusses the benefits of orthotopic heart transplantation and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to improve survival in patients with progressive cardiac AL.