Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 99

Imaging cardiac amyloid deposits in patients with primary amyloidosis

Official title: Molecular Imaging of Primary Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

Run by Brigham and Women's Hospital · NCT02641145 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing new imaging techniques to see how amyloid deposits affect heart health in people with primary light chain amyloidosis.

More Cardiomyopathy trials

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 99 Years
SexAll
Enrollment171 (estimated)
SponsorBrigham and Women's Hospital
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 1, 2016
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2027
Study endsDecember 31, 2028
Registry record updatedNovember 14, 2025
Trial IDNCT02641145 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates for this study are adults over 18 years old diagnosed with light chain amyloidosis.

Probably not a fit

Patients with localized amyloid deposition and non-systemic AL disease may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This project focuses on developing advanced imaging techniques to visualize cardiac amyloid deposits in patients with primary light chain amyloidosis, a condition that leads to severe heart dysfunction. Utilizing F-18 florbetapir PET/CT and other imaging modalities, the study aims to identify the mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction associated with amyloidosis. By understanding these mechanisms, the research seeks to guide the development of new, life-saving treatments for affected individuals. The study will include patients diagnosed with light chain amyloidosis and will explore the relationship between amyloid retention and cardiac health.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients suffering from cardiac amyloidosis.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies utilizing advanced imaging techniques for amyloidosis have shown promise, indicating potential success for this novel approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:

* Age \> 18 years
* Diagnosis of light chain amyloidosis by standard criteria (immunofixation of serum and urine, IgG free light chain (FLC) assay, a biopsy of fat pad/ bone marrow, or organ biopsy, followed by typing of the light chain using immunohistochemistry or immunogold assay with confirmation by Mass spectroscopy as needed)

  * For subjects traveling from out of town referred for systemic AL therapy based on clinical evaluation and laboratory testing, but, pending biopsy results, study enrollment and procedures may begin before official confirmation of biopsy results. If biopsy is negative for AL amyloidosis, subject will be considered a screen failure. There will be no more than 10 subjects who fall under this screen failure for the duration of the study.
  * Subjects with localized amyloid deposition and non-systemic AL disease will be eligible for enrollment in group D.
* Willing and able to provide consent
* Additional inclusion criteria for the Remission AL-CMP: Hematological response defined as complete hematological remission or very good partial response-differential free light chain (dFLC)\<40 mg/dL for \> 1 year prior to enrollment
* Additional inclusion criteria for the Active AL-CMP - exercise: Ability to perform supine bicycle exercise. Enrollment to this arm will stop after 36 subjects complete baseline and 6 months studies.
* Additional inclusion criteria for the Active AL Pre-CMP - Normal left ventricular wall thickness (≤ 12 mm) and normal LVEF (≥55%) on echocardiography within 3 months or increased wall thickness with normal cardiac biomarker levels: not meeting above definition.
* Additional inclusion criteria for Control Multiple Myeloma subjects: diagnosis of multiple myeloma without concomitant amyloidosis by standard criteria
* Additional inclusion criteria for Control Heart Failure subjects: diagnosis of heart failure without amyloidosis by standard criteria
* Additional inclusion criteria for the active AL-CMP: Abnormal TnT 5th generation levels (\>9 ng/L: Female, \>14 ng/L: Male) or abnormal age appropriate N terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP (abnormal values: \<50 years: \>450 pg/ml; 50-75 years:\>900 pg/ml; \>75 years: \>1800 pg/ml)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Hemodynamic instability
* Decompensated heart failure (unable to lie flat for 1 hour)
* Concomitant non-ischemic non-amyloid heart disease (valvular heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy)
* Known obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease with stenosis \> 50% in any single territory
* Severe claustrophobia despite use of sedatives
* Presence of MRI contraindications such as metallic implants (pacemaker or ICD) at the time of study enrollment except for Control Heart Failure subjects. Control HF subjects with no devices, or, with strictly MR compatible devices will be eligible to undergo MRI.
* Significant renal dysfunction with estimated glomerular filtration rate \< 30 ml/min/m2 within 14 days of each cardiac MRI study. Subjects who develop renal dysfunction over the course of the study, meeting criteria listed above, will be excluded from the cardiac MRI scan except for control HF subjects. These subjects with eGFR \< 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 will undergo MRI without gadolinium contrast.
* Subjects on dialysis will be excluded
* Pregnant state. For women in child bearing age, a urine pregnancy test will be performed prior to the PET and the cardiac MRI studies
* Documented allergy to F-18 florbetapir, C-11 acetate or gadolinium.
* Additional exclusion criteria for the active AL-CMP subjects: Subjects unable to return to BWH for 6 and 12 month clinical evaluation
* Additional exclusion criteria for active AL-CMP-exercise subjects: Inability to exercise or return to BWH for C-11 acetate PET/CT at baseline and 6 month clinical evaluations.
* Additional exclusion criteria for active AL Pre-CMP- Inability to return to BWH 12 month clinical evaluation.

Additional exclusion criteria for microbiota study: Documented hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, HIV or chronic viral hepatitis, documented inflammatory bowel disease, systemic antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals or antiparasitic agents within 6 months, unable to mail the stool sample in a timely manner, bowel surgery, colon cancer, received chemotherapy, and pregnancy.

Where it's running

  • Brigham and Womens' Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Sharmila Dorbala, MD — Brigham and Women's Hospital (AHA and NIH Studies)
  • Study coordinator: Sharmila Dorbala, MD, MPH
  • Email: sdorbala@partners.org
  • Phone: 617-732-6290

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.