DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband has been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis. The doctor has started him on Vyndamax, a very expensive drug. Without this drug, he is lucky to live, at the most, two years. Is this drug a miracle, and does it guarantee that he will live many more years? — T.W.
ANSWER: There are several types of cardiac amyloidosis — a disease in which abnormal proteins are depos-ited in many tissues, including the heart, where the protein interferes with heart function and leads to heart failure. Tafadamis (also known by its brand name, Vyndamax) is used in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopa-thy (ATTR, of which there are two types that both get treated with tafadamis). Subjects in the trial on tafadamis were followed for two-and-a-half years. Half of the group were given tafadamis, while the other half were given a placebo, which looked like the real drug but had no activity. Of those who got the inactive placebo, 43% died in the two-and-a-half-year time span of the study, but of those who received tafadamis, 30% died. Thirteen percent, or about one in eight people, who received tafadamis lived, when they were expected to die. In addition, there were fewer hospitalizations and less loss of ability to exercise in those taking tafadamis, com-pared with the placebo. There were no serious side effects that were more frequent in the tafadamis group. Tafadamis definitely affords a big improvement in the outcome of people with ATTR-CA. However, I would not call the drug a “miracle,” nor is there a guarantee of living many more years. To me, a miracle is when someone recovers when no doctor expected them to. I have seen a few in my career, and they are very powerful. I have seen many treatments that have incremental improvements in outcomes, and over time, that has led to dramatic improve-ments in many diseases. Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@ med.cornell.edu. © 2023 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/senior-health-news/diagnosed-with-cardiac-amyloidosis-to-your-good-health-dr-keith-roach https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org 813-693-5511
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DEAR DR. ROACH: Due to a slight genetic risk of breast cancer (my Tyrer-Cuzick Model score was 20.6%), my doctor wants me to get breast MRIs with contrast annual-ly. I am concerned about long-term exposure to the gadolinium-based contrast dye. I’ve learned that this heavy metal is considered safe, but traces of it can be stored in the brain and other body tissues. I am 49 and in very good health. I also get mammograms annually. I consulted my doctor about spac-ing out my MRIs every two to three years, but he said I should have an MRI every year. So I could be get-ting these MRIs for the next 35 or so years. Do the benefits of contrast dye outweigh the harm in a person with my health profile? — S.A. ANSWER: I’m afraid I don’t have a good answer for you. It is true that most authorities recommend an intensive breast cancer surveillance program for women at a high risk of breast cancer, in the range of a 20% to 25% lifetime risk. (The average risk for developing breast cancer for a woman born today is estimated to be about 13%.) The Tyrer-Cuzick model of esti-mating breast cancer risk tends to give higher estimates than the other commonly used models, such as the BRCAPRO. Other models may not put you over the threshold for inten-sive screening with MRIs, which is usually combined with mammograms. The question about gadolinium (the chemical element used in the contrast dye for MRIs) is important because some people do store gadolinium in various tissues, including the brain, but the clinical significance of this is unknown. (People with kidney disease can develop a skin disease due to gadolinium, so they aren’t recommended have MRIs with gadolinium.) Although gadolinium can stay in the body for months or years, there has been no evidence of harm from gad-olinium in brain tissue, despite these agents having been used for many years. Some agents have less retention than others. The U.S. FDA has man-dated patient guides for these contrast agents, which relay the information above. Given that there is a probable benefit to intensive screening for breast cancer in your case due to your high genetic risk, and no more than a theoretical risk from gadolinium, I believe that the benefits outweigh the risks, but I can’t say that with complete certainty. DEAR DR. ROACH: A friend gave me a hemp product to try on the quite painful arthritis in my fingers, which affects my ability to enjoy golf. I was reluctant to try it, but for the last two weeks, I’ve used it top-ically on my fingers and have been pleasantly surprised by a significant reduction in pain and an improve-ment in flexibility. One of your recent columns mentions Voltaren, which I have also used, but without as much relief. Can you comment on CBD as an alternative treatment for arthritis? — P.H.A. ANSWER: There are animal studies suggesting benefit from oral cannabidiol , a component of cannabis (hemp) that has no psychoactive component (it’s the THC in cannabis that gets peo-ple “high”). I found some small studies showing pain relief from topical CBD in people with neuropathy , but not for arthritis. Several people, like you, have written to me with reports of pain relief.
Topical CBD is probably very safe. Even oral CBD should be safe, but studies have found that many products labeled CBD have trace, or more than trace, amounts of THC, enough to make a urine test positive for cannabis. Until there is some evidence of effectiveness, I can’t recommend it, but people can try it based on safety and anecdotal reports. Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@ med.cornell.edu. © 2023 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/senior-health-news/patient-with-risk-of-breast-cancer-questions-safety-of-yearly-mri https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org 813-693-5511 Longtime Cannabis User |