Collaboration Helps with Rare Cardiology Condition

Torrance Memorial's Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute cardio-oncologist and electrophysiologist help a patient maintain an active lifestyle after his cardiac amyloidosis diagnosis.

Written by Lisa Buffington

is a certified public accountant and avid exercise enthusiast who can often be found on his treadmill or participating in outdoor activities near his Manhattan Beach home. But when he was in his mid-60s, an electrocardiogram performed at his primary care physician’s office revealed an abnormality.

“The only symptom I had was a little shortness of breath, but I thought it was just a sign I was getting older,” says Tevlin, who knew he needed to learn more about what was happening. He scheduled an appointment with Torrance Memorial Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute cardiologist/cardio-oncologist Brenton Bauer, MD.

“After some testing, Dr. Bauer figured out I had a cardiomyopathy and A-fib (atrial fibrillation),” says Tevlin.

Rare Diagnosis

Utilizing blood testing and advanced cardiac imaging, Dr. Bauer uncovered the cause of Tevlin’s cardiomyopathy: a rare condition called cardiac amyloidosis. This can be an inherited condition, but it can also develop spontaneously on its own or as a result of certain cancers. The condition occurs when abnormal proteins infiltrate and build up in the heart. Ultimately it results in a very stiff heart that is unable to relax (restrictive cardiomyopathy) and leads to a variety of complications including congestive heart failure and rhythm disturbances such as A-fib.

Dr. Bauer has a special interest in cardio-oncology, which focuses on preventing and treating cardiac conditions in people who have cancer or who are cancer survivors. Cardio-oncologists such as Dr. Bauer often treat patients with cardiac amyloidosis even when the condition isn’t caused by cancer, because the disease affects the heart in a similar way.

“We discovered that Creighton’s condition was not related to an underlying malignancy nor was it hereditary. Rather it was caused by a spontaneous genetic mutation in a gene for the TTR protein,” says Dr. Bauer. “Although Creighton’s cardiac amyloidosis isn’t curable, treatments are available to reduce symptoms, improve quality of life and prevent further heart damage—resulting in a longer lifespan with the condition.”

Collaborative Care

Taking a multidisciplinary approach, Dr. Bauer referred Tevlin to his colleague, Matthew Ostrom, MD, an electrophysiologist and cardiologist at Torrance Memorial who specializes in treating heart rhythm abnormalities such as A-fib. Dr. Ostrom recommended an electrical cardioversion procedure to correct Tevlin’s irregular heartbeat.

During the procedure, Dr. Ostrom delivered a mild electrical shock to Tevlin’s heart through electrode pads attached to his chest. The electrical shock restored Tevlin’s normal heart rhythm so he could return to his active lifestyle without experiencing A-fib symptoms.

“I am always on my treadmill and exercise a lot, and I was able to get back to my normal activities after the procedure with no problems,” says Tevlin. Dr. Bauer also prescribed several medications to help manage Tevlin’s general cardiac health and his cardiac amyloidosis cardiomyopathy.

“One thing Dr. Bauer impressed on my wife and me is that my condition won’t go away, but I can live with it,” says Tevlin, who sees Dr. Bauer every four months for checkups and is impressed by the collaboration between his cardiologists. “Dr. Bauer and Dr. Ostrom are on my team now, and I feel like I am in good hands.”

And even though taking medications and monitoring his health can sometimes feel tiresome, Tevlin says he takes things month by month. “I just tell myself to do what I have to do to manage my health and keep trusting the experts.”