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Clinical Research in Cardiology
Published in: Clinical Research in Cardiology 10/2012

Open Access 01-10-2012 | Original Paper

Green tea halts progression of cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis: an observational report

Authors: Arnt V. Kristen, Stephanie Lehrke, Sebastian Buss, Derliz Mereles, Henning Steen, Philipp Ehlermann, Stefan Hardt, Evangelos Giannitsis, Rupert Schreiner, Uwe Haberkorn, Philipp A. Schnabel, Reinhold P. Linke, Christoph Röcken, Erich E. Wanker, Thomas J. Dengler, Klaus Altland, Hugo A. Katus

Published in: Clinical Research in Cardiology | Issue 10/2012

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Abstract

Background

Treatment options in patients with amyloidotic transthyretin (ATTR) cardiomyopathy are limited. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin in green tea (GT), inhibits fibril formation from several amyloidogenic proteins in vitro. Thus, it might also halt progression of TTR amyloidosis. This is a single-center observational report on the effects of GT consumption in patients with ATTR cardiomopathy.

Methods

19 patients with ATTR cardiomyopathy were evaluated by standard blood tests, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI (n = 9) before and after consumption of GT and/or green tea extracts (GTE) for 12 months.

Results

Five patients were not followed up for reasons of death (n = 2), discontinuation of GT/GTE consumption (n = 2), and heart transplantation (n = 1). After 12 months no increase of left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and LV myocardial mass was observed by echocardiography. In the subgroup of patients evaluated by cardiac MRI a mean decrease of LV myocardial mass (−12.5 %) was detected in all patients. This was accompanied by an increase of mean mitral annular systolic velocity of 9 % in all 14 patients. Total cholesterol (191.9 ± 8.9 vs. 172.7 ± 9.4 mg/dL; p < 0.01) and LDL cholesterol (105.8 ± 7.6 vs. 89.5 ± 8.0 mg/dL; p < 0.01) decreased significantly during the observational period. No serious adverse effects were reported by any of the participants.

Conclusions

Our observation suggests an inhibitory effect of GT and/or GTE on the progression of cardiac amyloidosis. We propose a randomized placebo-controlled investigation to confirm our observation.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Green tea halts progression of cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis: an observational report
Authors
Arnt V. Kristen
Stephanie Lehrke
Sebastian Buss
Derliz Mereles
Henning Steen
Philipp Ehlermann
Stefan Hardt
Evangelos Giannitsis
Rupert Schreiner
Uwe Haberkorn
Philipp A. Schnabel
Reinhold P. Linke
Christoph Röcken
Erich E. Wanker
Thomas J. Dengler
Klaus Altland
Hugo A. Katus
Publication date
01-10-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Clinical Research in Cardiology / Issue 10/2012
Print ISSN: 1861-0684
Electronic ISSN: 1861-0692
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-012-0463-z

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