Minimal Residual Disease as a Possible Predictive Factor for Relapse in Patients With AL Amyloidosis...
AmyloidosisPrimary AmyloidosisThis protocol will assess patients with AL amyloidosis who achieve a complete response (CR) or very good partial response (VGPR) to therapy for minimal residual disease (MRD). Three approaches to MRD testing will be used since there is no established method. The investigators will clone and sequence each patient's light chain (LC) gene and design patient-specific primers to evaluate genomic DNA from future marrow specimens. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) will be used to test baseline and follow-up marrow cell DNA, seeking copy number variations in chromosomes 1 and 2 or 22, and structural variations in chromosomes 11 and 14, consistent with the known genetic abnormalities in AL and with clonal LC gene use. Plasma protein analysis by mass spectrometry will also be used to look for fragmentary protein sequences associated with the culprit LC gene of each subject. The feasibility and predictive value of these three approaches in patients achieving CR or VGPR will be evaluated. This protocol will help provide insight into the ways that the disease changes and progresses. MRD testing is likely an important next step in AL management.
Screening for Systemic Amyloidosis Via the Ligamentum Flavum
AmyloidAmyloidosis3 moreThe investigators will prospectively evaluate for the presence of amyloid deposits in ligamentum flavum (yellow ligament) tissue samples obtained from patients undergoing spinal stenosis surgery. Patients who have tissue that stains positive for amyloid will be referred to an amyloidosis specialist.
Assessment of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) After Antineoplastic Treatment in Patients With AL...
AmyloidosisIn this study, the investigators seek to evaluate bone marrow and blood samples and treatment responses to see if Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) can be used as a predictive method of response to treatment in amyloidosis.
Cardiac Amyloidosis Screening at Trigger Finger Release
AmyloidosisTrigger Finger2 moreThe investigators will prospectively evaluate for the presence of amyloid deposits in soft tissue samples obtained from patients undergoing trigger finger release surgery. Patients who have tissue that stains positive for amyloid will be referred to an amyloidosis specialist.
Exploration of Arrhythmia Burden in Cardiac Amyloidosis Using Implantable Loop Recorders
ArrythmiaCardiac Amyloidosis2 moreThe overall aim of this study is to improve our understanding of the effects of the build-up of amyloid deposits in the heart, in particular, our understanding of the risk of abnormal heart beats, or rhythms, associated with people with cardiac (heart) amyloidosis. Symptoms such as palpitations (fast, strong or irregular heart beat) and blackouts are common in people with cardiac amyloidosis, but there is not enough information on what causes this. At present, there is also not enough information on when they occur, how often they happen, and which patients are at risk of having serious, life-threatening types of abnormal heart rhythms. Some of these abnormal heart rhythms can be treated with medicine; others need electronic devices (e.g. pacemakers) implanted or inserted in the heart to prevent serious harm. The information on when is the best time to implant these life-saving devices remains limited. In this study, a small device known as an implantable loop recorder (ILR) will be implanted under the skin on the chest wall to continuously monitor participants' heart rhythm. This will help us answer some of the questions about what causes the abnormal heart rhythms, when they happen, and which patients are particularly likely to have them. Furthermore, it may help us to identify earlier, rather than later, those who are at risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms. This may lead to improvements in the care of people with cardiac amyloidosis in the future. Participants may not directly benefit from taking part in this study; however, there is a chance that the ILR may reveal heart rhythm abnormalities in some participants which might not be picked up otherwise, and so may lead to a change in their treatment.