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- Gertz, Morie, et al.
(author)
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Avoiding misdiagnosis : expert consensus recommendations for the suspicion and diagnosis of transthyretin amyloidosis for the general practitioner
- 2020
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In: BMC Family Practice. - : BMC. - 1471-2296. ; 21:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Transthyretin amyloidosis (also known as ATTR amyloidosis) is a systemic, life-threatening disease characterized by transthyretin (TTR) fibril deposition in organs and tissue. A definitive diagnosis of ATTR amyloidosis is often a challenge, in large part because of its heterogeneous presentation. Although ATTR amyloidosis was previously considered untreatable, disease-modifying therapies for the treatment of this disease have recently become available. This article aims to raise awareness of the initial symptoms of ATTR amyloidosis among general practitioners to facilitate identification of a patient with suspicious signs and symptoms. Methods These consensus recommendations for the suspicion and diagnosis of ATTR amyloidosis were developed through a series of development and review cycles by an international working group comprising key amyloidosis specialists. This working group met to discuss the barriers to early and accurate diagnosis of ATTR amyloidosis and develop a consensus recommendation through a thorough search of the literature performed using PubMed Central. Results The cardiac and peripheral nervous systems are most frequently involved in ATTR amyloidosis; however, many patients often also experience gastrointestinal and other systemic manifestations. Given the multisystemic nature of symptoms, ATTR amyloidosis is often misdiagnosed as a more common disorder, leading to significant delays in the initiation of treatment. Although histologic evaluation has been the gold standard to confirm ATTR amyloidosis, a range of tools are available that can facilitate early and accurate diagnosis. Of importance, genetic testing should be considered early in the evaluation of a patient with unexplained peripheral neuropathy. Conclusions A diagnostic algorithm based on initial red flag symptoms and manifestations of cardiac or neurologic involvement will facilitate identification by the general practitioner of a patient with clinically suspicious symptoms, enabling subsequent referral of the patient to a multidisciplinary specialized medical center.
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- Ihse, Elisabet, 1977-, et al.
(author)
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Amyloid fibrils with fragmented ATTR may be the rule in non-Val30Met ATTR amyloidosis
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The clinical phenotype of familial ATTR amyloidosis depends to some extent on the particular mutation, but differences exist also within mutations. We have previously described that two types of amyloid fibril compositions exist among Swedish ATTRV30M amyloidosis patients, one consisting of a mixture of intact and fragmented ATTR (type A) and one composed of only intact ATTR (type B). Patients with type A fibrils have a late age of onset and signs of cardiomyopathy, while patients with type B fibrils have an early onset and much less myocardial involvement. The present study aimed to determine if the correlation between fibril type and clinical phenotype is true for familial amyloidosis in general. Cardiac and/or adipose tissue from 48 patients carrying 21 different non-TTRV30M mutations were examined, as well as 7 non-Swedish ATTRV30M patients. Fibril type was determined with western blotting and compared to the patients´ age of onset and degree of cardiomyopathy. Non-Swedish V30M patients showed the same correlation as described for Swedish V30M patients, with fibrils of only full-length ATTR (type B) linked to less myocardial involvement. In contrast, all patients with non-V30M mutations had a fibril composition with ATTR fragments (type A). Some of these patients had onset of disease at young age. The vast majority had increased thickness of left cardiac ventricle, but a few individuals had values within normal limits. This study shows that a fibril composition with fragmented ATTR is very common in ATTR amyloidosis. It also suggests that fibrils composed of only full-length ATTR is an exception, perhaps only found among young ATTRV30M amyloidosis patients.
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