Thursday, February 16, 2012

I was there first; I was their 1st

Heart transplantation and cardiac amyloidosis: Approach to screening and novel management strategies
The Journal of Heart and Lung TransplantationVolume 31, Issue 3March 2012Pages 325-331
Brandon C. Varr, Michaela Liedtke, Sally Arai, Richard A. Lafayette, Stanley L. Schrier, Ronald M. Witteles
Abstract
Limited data exist regarding screening methods and outcomes for orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in cardiac amyloidosis. As a result, uncertainty exists over the best approach to OHT for cardiac amyloidosis and for the timing of critical post-transplant therapies. This article reviews 6 patients who underwent OHT for cardiac amyloidosis at the Stanford University Amyloid Center from 2008 to present. All patients with light-chainamyloidosis received chemotherapy in the interval between OHT and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Five patients remain alive up to 25 months after OHT, without evidence of recurrent cardiac amyloid deposition. A novel strategy of OHT, followed by light-chain suppressive chemotherapy before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant, is feasible for patients with light-chain amyloidosis.


This was very cool to read a scientific article where I was one of the subjects. I am celebrating 3 1/2 years today (42 month follow up); so I rode my bike to work.
The Velcade is working great.
Life is good, really good.

Kevin