Prevalence of cardiac and kidney amyloidosis in patients with myeloma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
CHARACTERISING THE PREVALENCE OF CARDIAC AND KIDNEY AMYLOIDOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH MYELOMA
IRAS ID
352882
Contact name
Ninian Lang
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that starts in plasma cells found in the bone marrow. Thanks to medical advancements, treatment has improved significantly, leading to better survival rates. AL amyloidosis is a related condition that occur alongside multiple myeloma. In this condition, abnormal plasma cells produce proteins that form amyloid deposits. These deposits build up in organs like the heart and kidneys, which can cause them to stop working properly.
When AL amyloidosis appears in myeloma patients, it can cause serious health problems and increase the risk of death. It mainly affects the heart and kidneys. In the heart, it can lead to heart pumping issues (heart failure), irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) , and even sudden death. In the kidneys, it can cause severe protein loss (nephrotic syndrome), eventually leading to kidney failure. AL amyloidosis also impacts treatment decisions for myeloma and requires close monitoring of heart and kidney health.
Currently, there are no strong, evidence-based guidelines recommending routine screening for AL amyloidosis in myeloma patients. As a result, the true number of cases in contemporary patient groups is unclear, and early detection may be limited.
This study aims to find out how common heart and kidney AL amyloidosis is in patients with multiple myeloma. It is an observational study, meaning it will not change or influence any treatments.
The study will recruit multiple myeloma patients from the West of Scotland Cancer Network. As part of their usual care, they will be tested for AL amyloidosis. Blood and urine samples will also be collected to explore potential biomarkers that could help with diagnosis and predicting disease progression.
We plan to create a database for multiple myeloma patients in the West of Scotland. This will record the presence of AL amyloidosis and its outcomes.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SW/0057
Date of REC Opinion
9 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion