Cardiogenic shock — cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM and AL)
Phase E variant of cardio.cardiogenic-shock.core.v1 — narrowed to cardiogenic shock from severe cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM or AL); distinct from sister cardio.acute-hf.amyloidosis.v1 (decompensation-not-shock) by SHOCK PHYSIOLOGY focus. Pathophysiology: restrictive cardiomyopathy + low cardiac output + often preserved EF + diastolic dysfunction → low forward flow + diuretic-resistance + autonomic dysfunction; LV unable to recover quickly without disease-modifying therapy onset (months) or transplant. Two etiologic phenotypes: ATTR-CM (wild-type elderly or hereditary variant) — tafamidis 61 mg PO daily (ATTR-ACT PMID 30145930) ± gene silencer (patisiran/vutrisiran/inotersen); AL amyloidosis — oncologic emergency, Dara-CyBorD per ANDROMEDA PMID 34077641 ± autologous HSCT. Treatment ACUTE pivots: low-threshold MCS (IABP preferred initial — small LV cavity); cautious volume; AVOID typical inotropes (often paradoxically worse — worsen LVOT obstruction, ventricular arrhythmia, autonomic instability); norepinephrine first-line; IABP for afterload reduction; VA-ECMO / Impella 5.5 bridge to therapy onset (months) or transplant. AVOID list: DIGOXIN (binds amyloid fibrils → toxicity at low serum levels), BETA-BLOCKERS (autonomic intolerance), DILTIAZEM/non-DHP CCB (binds amyloid fibrils + AV block), large-volume diuresis (preload-dependent), ACEi/ARB (orthostasis). Inherits parent CS framework; specialises for amyloid-CS — phenotype-directed disease-modifying therapy, MCS bridging strategy, oncologic emergency pathway for AL, contraindicated drug stewardship, family ATTRv genetic counseling. Status INTEGRATED until terminology + RxNav-validated drug codes are reconciled. Authored 2026-05-15 by shard-06-cardio-acute as Phase E wave 22 infiltrative cardiac variant.
Entry points (5)
- symptomCardiogenic shock + LV wall thickness ≥12 mm + no long-standing HTN → cardiac amyloidosis with shock physiologycs_with_thick_lv_walls_no_htn_history
- symptomCardiogenic shock + low-voltage QRS on ECG + thick LV walls (voltage-mass mismatch — pathognomonic amyloid signature)cs_with_low_voltage_ecg_thick_walls
- historyKnown cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR or AL) decompensating from chronic HF to shock physiology (SBP <90, lactate ≥2)known_amyloid_with_decompensation_to_shock
- lab_abnormalityMonoclonal protein on SPEP/SFLC + shock physiology → AL amyloidosis emergent oncologic workupmonoclonal_protein_with_shock
- imagingApical sparing pattern on speckle-tracking strain echo (cherry-on-top sign) in shock — amyloid-CS phenotypeapical_sparing_strain_with_shock
Required inputs (17)
- agerequireddemographic • used at CONTEXTATTRwt overwhelmingly age >65; AL across ages; ATTRv often presents 30–60 with hereditary mutation
- race_ethnicitydemographic • used at CONTEXTV122I ATTR variant prevalent in West African / African-American descent (~3–4%) — drives variant ATTR screen
- family_history_neuropathy_or_carpal_tunnelhistory • used at CONTEXTATTRv signal — autonomic + peripheral neuropathy + bilateral carpal tunnel release history
- sbprequiredvital • used at RED_FLAGSSCAI 2022 staging baseline; amyloid CS often hypotensive at baseline due to autonomic + restrictive physiology — narrow tolerance window
- hrrequiredvital • used at RED_FLAGSAF very common in amyloid (~70% lifetime); rate control challenging — BB and non-DHP CCB poorly tolerated / contraindicated
- spo2requiredvital • used at INITIAL_WORKUPPulm congestion from restrictive filling drives congestion easily; intubation may worsen restrictive low-output state
- lactaterequiredlab • used at RED_FLAGSSCAI staging anchor + amyloid CS often has marked lactic acidosis from restrictive low-output state
- nt_probnprequiredlab • used at INITIAL_WORKUPMarkedly elevated in amyloid (often >3000 even with normal LVEF); Mayo AL staging variable (>1800)
- troponinrequiredlab • used at INITIAL_WORKUPPersistently elevated in amyloid (myocardial infiltration); Mayo AL staging variable (cTnT >0.025 or hsTnT >40)
- serum_free_light_chainsrequiredlab • used at BRANCHING_WORKUPMANDATORY before PYP read — rule out AL amyloidosis (PYP can be falsely positive in AL); difference >18 mg/L abnormal (Mayo AL staging)
- spep_upep_immunofixationrequiredlab • used at BRANCHING_WORKUPDetect monoclonal protein for AL workup (combined sensitivity ~99% with SFLC)
- creatininerequiredlab • used at CONTEXTCardiorenal common in amyloid; tafamidis dose unaffected; patisiran requires baseline LFT/eGFR
- ecgrequiredimaging • used at INITIAL_WORKUPLow-voltage QRS + pseudo-infarct pattern + AV conduction abnormalities; may show pseudo-STEMI mimicking ACS
- echo_strainrequiredimaging • used at INITIAL_WORKUPApical sparing pattern (preserved apical longitudinal strain with reduced basal strain — cherry-on-top sign); LV wall thickness + restrictive filling + diastolic dysfunction
- pyp_scan_or_embrequiredimaging • used at BRANCHING_WORKUPTTR PYP scan: visual grade 2-3 + H/CL ratio ≥1.5 + negative monoclonal screen → ATTR diagnosis (no biopsy needed); otherwise endomyocardial biopsy with mass spec for definitive typing
- ttr_genotypelab • used at BRANCHING_WORKUPDistinguish ATTRwt vs ATTRv after ATTR diagnosis confirmed (drives family screening + transplant strategy)
- transplant_eligibilityhistory • used at CONTEXTHeart transplant ± combined heart-liver (ATTRv) for selected; advanced HF team early evaluation
12-phase flow (12)
- 1FRAMECardiac amyloidosis presenting with shock physiology — distinct from sister acute-hf-amyloidosis variant by hemodynamic compromise; phenotype-first triage (AL = oncologic emergency vs ATTR = disease-modifying therapy with months-to-benefit needing MCS bridge)inputs: age, sbpadvance: Amyloid CS confirmed and AL vs ATTR phenotype routing initiated
- 2ENTRYCS + thick walls / low voltage ECG / known amyloid decompensating / monoclonal protein → activate cards + advanced HF + hematology (if AL) + cardiology amyloid center; mobilize MCS team early given restrictive low-output state recovery limitationinputs: sbp, lactateadvance: Multi-disciplinary team activated + MCS team aware
- 3CONTEXTDemographics, family history, neuropathy, prior monoclonal workup, transplant eligibility, baseline renal/hepatic function (KDIGO 2021), prior amyloid-directed therapyinputs: age, sbp, creatinine, family_history_neuropathy_or_carpal_tunnel, transplant_eligibilityadvance: Context complete and AL vs ATTR phenotype + transplant eligibility documented
- 4RED_FLAGSSBP <90 with lactate ≥2 → SCAI C+ — early MCS consideration given restrictive low-output state; AL with rapidly rising free light chains → oncologic emergency; ventricular arrhythmia common; AVOID typical inotropes (paradoxically worse)inputs: sbp, lactate, nt_probnpactions: cardiogenic_shockadvance: Red flags screened + escalation pathway documented
- 5INITIAL_WORKUPNT-proBNP + troponin + BMP + lactate + ECG (low voltage, pseudo-infarct pattern) + echo with strain (apical sparing) + CXR + ABG; coags for AL bleeding diathesis (factor X deficiency)inputs: nt_probnp, troponin, echo_strain, ecg, lactateactions: acs_pathway, panel.cardiac, panel.renal, panel.coag, panel.abgadvance: Baseline workup documented and ACS-mimic ruled out
- 6BRANCHING_WORKUPAL screen FIRST (SPEP + UPEP + immunofixation + serum free light chains) → if positive route to hematology emergent. If AL screen negative → TTR PYP scan; if PYP positive → ATTR diagnosed (no biopsy needed). If PYP negative + suspicion remains → endomyocardial biopsy with mass spectrometry typing. Then TTR genotyping (ATTRwt vs ATTRv) for family screening + transplant planninginputs: serum_free_light_chains, spep_upep_immunofixation, pyp_scan_or_embadvance: Amyloid type definitively assigned (AL vs ATTRwt vs ATTRv)
- 7DIFFERENTIALAL vs ATTRwt vs ATTRv; consider mimics (HOCM, hypertensive heart, Fabry, sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis); rule out concurrent ACS (pseudo-STEMI ECG mimic)inputs: pyp_scan_or_embadvance: Amyloid type assigned and mimics excluded
- 8RISK_STRATIFICATIONMayo AL stage (NT-proBNP, troponin, dFLC); ATTR NAC stage (NT-proBNP + eGFR); SCAI 2022 CS stage; transplant eligibility — drives MCS bridge urgency vs comfort-focused careinputs: nt_probnp, troponin, creatinine, sbp, lactateadvance: Stage documented and disposition trajectory chosen
- 9TREATMENTAL → Dara-CyBorD (daratumumab + bortezomib + cyclophosphamide + dexamethasone) per ANDROMEDA PMID 34077641 ± HSCT — hematology owns. ATTR → tafamidis 61 mg PO daily lifelong (ATTR-ACT PMID 30145930) ± gene-silencer (patisiran/vutrisiran/inotersen). CS support: NOREPINEPHRINE first-line; IABP for afterload reduction; VA-ECMO / Impella 5.5 bridge to therapy onset (months) or transplant. AVOID: digoxin (binds fibrils), BB (autonomic intolerance), non-DHP CCB (binds fibrils + AV block), large-volume diuresis, ACEi/ARB (orthostasis); CAUTIOUS gentle loop diuretic if congestioninputs: sbp, creatinine, lactateactions: protocol.cardiogenic_shockadvance: Disease-modifying + CS support plan started + MCS decision documented
- 10DISPOSITIONCICU for all amyloid CS; AL with cardiac stage III-IV → hematology + cards-onc co-management; advanced HF / transplant team consult for MCS bridge eligibility evaluationadvance: Unit + multi-disciplinary team assigned + MCS / transplant pathway documented
- 11MONITORINGContinuous hemodynamics, daily weight (gentle diuresis), BMP, lactate clearance; AL: monitor FLC weekly during chemotherapy, LFT for daratumumab; ATTR: NT-proBNP + 6MWD + echo at 6 mo on tafamidis (response usually 12-30 mo)inputs: creatinine, nt_probnp, lactateactions: panel.cardiac, panel.renaladvance: Monitoring cadence set + therapy response trajectory documented
- 12FOLLOWUPCardiology amyloid center quarterly; advanced HF / transplant team monthly if MCS-dependent; hematology q2-4w during AL chemo; ID surveillance during AL therapy (PJP prophylaxis); family ATTRv screening; cardiac rehab if MCS recovery achievedadvance: Long-term follow-up booked + amyloid-center handoff complete + family screening initiated