Does amyloid build-up in the heart make aortic stenosis more difficult to treat?

The role of occult amyloid in the elderly with Aortic Stenosis (Dr Paul Scully)

The most common form of heart valve disease is aortic stenosis, where there is narrowing of the aortic valve – the valve that controls blood flow from the heart into the main blood vessel supplying the body. The heart has to pump harder to push blood through the narrow valve, and this can lead to heart failure. Aortic stenosis is more common in elderly people, who are also often affected by another condition called cardiac amyloid, where an abnormal protein (amyloid) builds up in heart muscle and makes it stiffer. Working with Professor James Moon of University College London, a clinical student will examine heart amyloid levels in 250 elderly people who are awaiting aortic valve replacement surgery. The researchers will image the heart to identify build-up of amyloid and will observe if this build-up affects how well patients recover after their valve replacement surgery. The researchers will also investigate if a common type of bone scan test can be used to screen patients for amyloid deposits. This scan would enable doctors to monitor high-risk patients and treat them with drugs that can reduce or prevent amyloid build-up.