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Porcari et al. Vessel Plus 2022;6:33   https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1209.2021.134                                                                                          Page 3 of 14



                          Table 1. Knowledge and uncertainty in the management of cardiac amyloidosis

                                                                 Knowledge                                                                            Uncertainties
                          AF                          Rate       Improves HF symptoms;                                                                What is the prognostic impact of rate control compared to rhythm
                                                      control    Drugs commonly used can be poorly tolerated and have a narrow therapeutic window;    control?
                                                                 Low-dose BB is generally safe and well-tolerated;                                    Is rate control the strategy of choice?
                                                                 Digoxin should be avoided;                                                           Which drugs should be used?
                                                                 AV node ablation with biventricular PM implantation might be an option when other strategies  When is rate preferred to rhythm control?
                                                                 fail
                                                      Rhythm     Exclude cardiac thrombosis before cardioversion;                                     Does it improve HF symptoms?
                                                      control    AF recurrence is frequent;                                                           Does maintaining SR have a prognostic impact?
                                                                 Amiodarone is the agent of choice. Ibutilide and propafenone might be used under close   Are markers of atrial remodeling commonly used in HF reliable for
                                                                 monitoring of the QT interval and renal function;                                    predicting the risk of AF recurrence after cardioversion?
                                                                 DCCV has significant risk of complications;                                          When should catheter ablation be performed?
                                                                 Catheter ablation might be an option, but data are scarce and controversial          Should PV isolation be associated with other ablation targets?
                          Thromboembolism &           In AF      Anticoagulation is recommended regardless of the CHA DS -VASc score;                 Which is the first-line anticoagulant in CA without other indications?
                                                                                                                      2
                                                                                                                   2
                          Anticoagulation                        Bleeding risk is frequently increased in CA (especially AL) and should be carefully assessed   Are DOACs as effective as warfarin?
                                                                 before initiation of anticoagulation                                                 Should LAA closure be considered in patients with prohibitive bleeding
                                                                                                                                                      risks?
                                                      In SR      Advanced atrial dysfunction promotes embolic events;                                 Should anticoagulation be used in SR?
                                                                 CHA DS -VASc score ≥ 3 is associated with increased thromboembolic risk              Should cardiac thrombosis be excluded in all patients?
                                                                      2  2
                                                                                                                                                      How should we identify the best candidates?
                                                                                                                                                      Are transmitral A wave < 20 cm/s or LAA velocities < 40 cm/s useful?
                          CAD                                    CAD should be regularly assessed and promoting factors should be treated as in patients   Should PCI be preferred to surgery?
                                                                 without CA;                                                                          How shoulw we manage anti-thrombotic therapy?
                                                                 Treatment of significant stenosis of the main epicardial coronaries confers a more benign   How can we predict the risk of low cardiac syndrome after CABG?
                                                                 outcome;                                                                             How can we predict the impact of revascularization on symptoms and
                                                                 Low cardiac output syndrome is frequent after coronary artery bypass surgery;        prognosis?
                                                                 Coronary revascularization might not ameliorate symptoms due to microvascular dysfunction  How can microvascular dysfunction be relieved?
                          Treatment of AS                        Accurate characterization of AS is fundamental;                                      When should we treat AS?
                                                                 Untreated severe AS confers worse prognosis;                                         Should LF-LG AV be regularly treated?
                                                                 The prognostic benefit of treating LF-LG AS is debated;                              How should we monitor disease progression?
                                                                 TAVI seems to improve the outcome of ATTR-CA patients compared to medical management;  How can we predict the feasibility of TAVI and the risk of
                                                                 LVEF to monitor disease progression is an inaccurate parameter in heavily hypertrophied   complications?
                                                                 hearts                                                                               Should dual antiplatelet therapy follow TAVI?
                                                                                                                                                      Should patients with CAD and AS be treated with PCI and TAVI or
                                                                                                                                                      CABG and AVR?
                          SCD and ICD                            Ventricular arrhythmias are common in CA;                                            Which parameters should guide the decision to implant an ICD?
                                                                 No survival benefit is demonstrated following ICD implantation in CA;                Could patients with biventricular systolic dysfunction benefit from ICD
                                                                 AL-CA exhibits a high frequency of appropriate ICD shocks;                           placement?
                                                                 ICD implantation for secondary prevention can be considered in AL or hereditary ATTR-CA   How can we predict the risk of SCD with shockable rhythm to guide
                                                                 (Class IIa, level of evidence C);                                                    prophylactic ICD implantation?
                                                                 The role of prophylactic ICD remains controversial, but it might be considered as bridge to   How should we select patients for secondary prevention of SCD?
                                                                 transplant or in ischemic heart disease fulfilling indications for implantation      Do ATTR and AL deserve different strategies for SCD prevention?
                          CRT                                    LBBB is frequent in ATTR-CA at diagnosis;                                            Is there a prognostic benefit of CRT in CA?
                                                                 Decline in LVEF is a late phenomenon in CA;                                          Is CRT effective in CA patients fulfilling indications according to latest
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