Cardiac Amyloidosis, Stiff Heart Treatments at Emory Heart & Vascular

Leading the Way in Cardiac Amyloidosis Care

If you have cardiac amyloidosis [link to: /services/heart-vascular/conditions/cardiac-amyloidosis] (stiff heart syndrome), you need fast, effective treatment to reduce your symptoms and prevent your condition from progressing.

The experts at Emory Healthcare offer the latest medication therapies for amyloid transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis.

We also partner with specialists at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University—Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—to treat amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis.

Find an Emory Provider

AL Amyloidosis Treatment

AL amyloidosis is not a type of cancer, but it is closely related to a form of blood cancer. Because of this, treatment is similar.

If you have AL amyloidosis, our team will work with hematologists at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University to develop a treatment plan. Your treatment may include chemotherapy and other medications.

With the right treatment approach, AL amyloidosis can go into remission. Remission is a period when your AL isn’t active or getting worse.

ATTR Amyloidosis Treatment

Medical treatments for ATTR became available in 2019. The team at Emory Healthcare offers these therapies. They can slow or stop disease progression.
Our team also offers treatment for conditions caused by ATTR, including:

Heart Transplant for Cardiac Amyloidosis

Some people with ATTR benefit from a heart transplant. The cardiac amyloidosis program at Emory Healthcare is one of only a few programs linked to a heart transplant program. Our cardiac amyloidosis program leader is also a heart transplant cardiologist who oversees transplant care and amyloidosis treatment before and after transplant surgery.

Treating Other Cardiac Amyloidosis Symptoms

We partner with gastroenterologists, neurologists and orthopaedic surgeons to treat non-heart-related conditions associated with ATTR, including:

Bicep tendon rupture
Carpal tunnel
Gastrointestinal problems (including severe constipation or diarrhea)
Neuropathy
Spinal stenosis

Cardiac Amyloidosis Clinical Trials

Experts at Emory Healthcare are leaders in the development of new treatments for cardiac amyloidosis. Our team is currently participating in two international ATTR amyloidosis clinical trials.

The study is exploring a cutting-edge gene-editing tool called CRISPR. Researchers are using it to "switch off" a gene that creates an abnormal protein that builds up in the heart and causes cardiac amyloidosis.

The other study is testing a once-monthly infusion to remove amyloid build-up from the heart.

Learn More About Heart Clinical Trials at Emory Healthcare