Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a form of amyloidosis

Amyloidosis (pronounced am-uh-loi-DO-sis)

is a group of diseases in which certain abnormal proteins can build up over time and affect different parts of the body.

ATTR-CM, which stands for transthyretin (pronounced trans-THY-re-tin) amyloid cardiomyopathy,

is a serious and underdiagnosed type of amyloidosis that primarily affects the heart and leads to heart failure.

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Doctor Discussion Guide

Recently diagnosed? Keep these tips in mind:

1

It’s important to understand that ATTR-CM is a rare, life-threatening, progressive condition, which means it will get worse over time.

2

Discuss treatment options with your doctor as soon as your diagnosis is confirmed. The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you can begin to slow the disease progression.

3

Connect with others who have gone through a similar experience with ATTR-CM.

Subtypes of ATTR-CM

The 2 subtypes of ATTR-CM are wild type and hereditary.

Caucasian man over 60 depicting a wild-type ATTR-CM patient
Wild-type ATTR-CM (wtATTR)

Wild-type ATTR-CM is associated with aging. It occurs when the transthyretin (TTR) protein becomes unstable with age and misfolds. It mainly affects white/Caucasian men over 60 years old.

African American man depicting the most common mutation of hereditary ATTR-CM (hATTR) which in the US (V122I) is found almost exclusively in AA
Hereditary ATTR-CM (hATTR)

hATTR is caused by a change, or mutation, in the TTR gene that is passed down from a relative.

  • There are more than 120 known mutations that cause hATTR
  • The most common mutation associated with hATTR in the US, known as V122I, is found almost exclusively in African Americans. Approximately 3% to 4% of African Americans in the US are thought to have the V122I mutation. Not all individuals with the V122I mutation develop symptoms of hereditary ATTR-CM
  • Symptoms of hATTR can occur as early as age 50 or 60