The present invention relates generally to
diagnostic methods, systems, assays and kits for identification of subjects with cardiac
amyloid deposits, where a low level of
clusterin protein in a
peripheral fluid sample, e.g., a serum sample from the subject, indicates the subject likely has cardiac
amyloid deposits. Other aspects relate to methods of treatment of diseases or disorders characterized by cardiac
amyloid deposits and
transthyretin (TTR)
amyloidosis, and more particularly to methods of treatment of cardiac-related
amyloidosis and cardiac amyloid deposits in subjects with familial
transthyretin (TTR), senile systemic
amyloidosis (SSA), or familial amyloidodic polyneuropathy (FAP), or
immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis. Other aspects relate to methods and compositions comprising
clusterin (CLU) or a
clusterin agent (e.g. an
agonist of clusterin activity or a biologically active fragment or derivative thereof), and their use in methods to treat a
disease or disorder characterized by
transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis, e.g. senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA) or familial amyloidodic polyneuropathy (FAP), and their use in methods to treat amyloidotic
cardiomyopathy associated with transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis.