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Background: We have previously shown that transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis patients have amyloid fibrils of either of two compositions; type A fibrils consisting of large amounts of C-terminal TTR fragments in addition to full-length TTR, or type B fibrils consisting of only full-length TTR. Since type A fibrils are associated with an older age in ATTRVal30Met (p.Val50Met) amyloidosis patients, it has been discussed if the TTR fragments are derived from degradation of the amyloid deposits as the patients are aging. The present study aimed to investigate if the fibril composition type changes over time, especially if type B fibrils can shift to type A fibrils as the disease progresses., Material and Methods: Abdominal adipose tissue biopsies from 29 Swedish ATTRVal30Met amyloidosis patients were investigated. The fibril type in the patients´ initial biopsy taken for diagnostic purposes was compared to a biopsy taken several years later (ranging between 2 and 13 years). The fibril composition type was determined by western blot., Results: All 29 patients had the same fibril composition type in both the initial and the follow-up biopsy (8 type A and 21 type B). Even patients with a disease duration of more than 12 years and an age over 75 years at the time of the follow-up biopsy had type B fibrils in both biopsies., Discussion: The result clearly shows that the amyloid fibril composition containing large amounts of C-terminal fragments (fibril type A) is a consequence of other factors than a slow degradation process occurring over time., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: The amyloid fibril in hereditary transthyretin (TTR) Val30Met (pVal50Met) amyloid (ATTR Val30Met) amyloidosis is composed of either a mixture of full-length and TTR fragments (Type A) or of only full-length TTR (Type B). The type of amyloid fibril exerts an impact on the phenotype of the disease, and on the outcome of diagnostic procedures and therapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate if the type of amyloid fibril remains the same within ATTR Val30Met amyloidosis families., Methods: Fifteen families were identified in whom at least two first-degree relatives had their amyloid fibril composition determined. The type of ATTR was determined by Western blot in all but two patients. For these two patients a positive 99mTc-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid scintigraphy indicated ATTR Type A., Results: In 14 of the 15 families, the same amyloid fibril composition was noted irrespective of differences in age at onset. In the one family, different ATTR fibril types was found in two brothers with similar ages at onset., Conclusions: Family predisposition appears to have an impact on amyloid fibril composition in members of the family irrespective of their age at onset of disease, but if genetically determined, the gene/genes are likely to be situated at another location than the TTR gene in the genome., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Hereditary transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is a systemic neuropathic disorder caused by TTR gene mutations. Gastrointestinal complications are common and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) function as pacemaker cells in the gastrointestinal tract and are important for gastrointestinal motility. The aim of this study was to investigate the densities of gastric ICC and nerves in patients with TTR amyloidosis compared to non-amyloidosis controls., Methods: Antral wall autopsy specimens from 11 Japanese ATTR V30M patients and 10 controls were analyzed with immunohistochemistry and computerized analysis. Antibodies to c-Kit and TMEM16A were used to assess ICC and an antibody to PGP 9.5 was used to assess nervous tissue. The study was approved by a Japanese ethical committee., Results: The densities of c-Kit-immunoreactive (IR) ICC were significantly lower in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers of patients compared to controls (p = 0.004 for both). Equivalent results were found for TMEM16A-IR ICC. There were no significant differences in PGP 9.5-IR cells in the circular or longitudinal muscle layers between patients and controls (p = 0.173 and 0.099, respectively)., Conclusions: A loss of gastrointestinal ICC may be an important factor for the digestive disturbances in hereditary TTR amyloidosis.

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionsThe NEURO-TTRansform trial showed that after 66 weeks of treatment, eplontersen significantly reduced neuropathic impairment and improved quality of life (QoL) in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN). In this secondary analysis from NEURO-TTRansform, autonomic impairment, and the impact of eplontersen on autonomic impairment progression was evaluated through 85 weeks in patients randomised to eplontersen (n = 144) versus external placebo (n = 60; through Week 66 from the NEURO-TTR trial).Change from baseline in modified Neuropathy Impairment Score +7 (mNIS+7) composite score, Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QoL-DN) total score, and the Neuropathy Symptoms and Change (NSC) total score was evaluated. Exploratory assessments were change in autonomic components of these instruments, Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31 (COMPASS-31) total score, and nutritional status (modified body mass index [mBMI]).Patients reported profound autonomic dysfunction at baseline. Improvements with eplontersen versus placebo were observed up to Week 66 in autonomic components of mNIS+7, Norfolk QoL-DN, NSC, and mBMI; eplontersen results were sustained up to Week 85, including improvements in COMPASS-31 (Week 81).Eplontersen demonstrated benefit across multiple measures of autonomic impairment known to progress rapidly and negatively impact QoL without treatment, without deterioration in nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological data on hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis from the northernmost region of Sweden (Norrbotten) are sparse. We reviewed the medical records of all incident cases of ATTRv amyloidosis in Norrbotten between 2006 and 2018. Official population and mortality statistics were used to estimate incidence rates and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs). Ninety-three patients were diagnosed with ATTRv amyloidosis between 2006 and 2018 (median age, 72.8 years; 68.8% men; 95.7% Val30Met [p.Val50Met] mutation). The incidence rate per 100,000 persons and year increased from 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84–2.47) cases in 2006–2009 to 4.92 (95%CI, 3.46–6.78) cases in 2016–2018. The SMR in the ATTRv amyloidosis cohort was 2.64 times higher than in the general population in 2006–2018 (95%CI, 1.78–3.77). However, there were indications of lower SMRs over time (2006–2012, 2.96 [95%CI, 1.73–4.74]; 2013–2018, 2.32 [95%CI, 1.23–3.96]) and by use of disease-modifying drugs (no, 3.21 [95%CI, 1.87–5.13]; yes, 2.09 [95%CI, 1.08–3.64]). The incidence of ATTRv amyloidosis increased 3-fold in Norrbotten between 2006 and 2018, most likely due to a previous underdiagnosis – with suggestions of lowered mortality during later years, possibly due to the introduction of disease-modifying drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis caused by the V30M (p. V50M) mutation is a fatal, neuropathic systemic amyloidosis. Liver transplantation has prolonged the survival of patients and central nervous system (CNS) complications, attributed to amyloid angiopathy caused by CNS synthesis of variant transthyretin, have emerged. The study aimed to ascertain amyloid deposition within the brain in long-term ATTRv amyloidosis survivors with neurological symptoms from the CNS. Methods: A total of 20 patients with ATTR V30M having symptoms from the CNS and a median disease duration of 16 years (8–25 years) were included in this study. The cognitive and peripheral nervous functions were determined for 18 patients cross-sectionally at the time of the investigation. Amyloid brain deposits were examined by [18F]flutemetamol PET/CT. Five patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) served as positive controls. Result: 60% of the patients with ATTRv had a pathological Z-score in the cerebellum, compared to only 20% in the patients with AD. 75% of the patients with transient focal neurological episodes (TFNEs) displayed a pathological uptake only in the cerebellum. Increased cerebellar uptake was related to an early age of onset of the ATTRv disease. 55% of the patients with ATTRv had a pathological Z-score in the global cerebral region compared to 100% of the patients with AD. Conclusion: Amyloid deposition within the brain after long-standing ATTRv amyloidosis is common, especially in the cerebellum. A cerebellar amyloid uptake profile seems to be related to TFNE symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Transthyretin amyloidosis is a systemic disorder caused by amyloid deposits formed by misfolded transthyretin monomers. Two main forms exist: hereditary and wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis, the former associated with transthyretin gene mutations. There are several disease manifestations; however, gastrointestinal complications are common in the hereditary form. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal manifestations in transthyretin amyloidosis and to evaluate their impact on the patients' nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods The Transthyretin Amyloidosis Outcomes Survey (THAOS) is the first global, multicenter, longitudinal, observational survey that collects data on patients with transthyretin amyloidosis and the registry is sponsored by Pfizer Inc. This study presents baseline data from patients enrolled in THAOS as of June 2013. The modified body mass index (mBMI), in which BMI is multiplied with serum albumin, was used to assess the nutritional status and the EQ-5D Index was used to assess HRQoL. Results Data from 1579 patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis and 160 patients with wildtype transthyretin amyloidosis were analyzed. Sixty-three percent of those with the hereditary form and 15% of those with the wild-type form reported gastrointestinal symptoms at enrollment. Unintentional weight loss and early satiety were the most frequent symptoms, reported by 32% and 26% of those with transthyretin gene mutations, respectively. Earlyonset patients (<50 years) reported gastrointestinal complaints more frequently than those with a late onset (p < 0.001) and gastrointestinal symptoms were more common in patients with the V30M mutation than in those with other mutations (p < 0.001). For patients with predominantly cardiac complications, the prevalence of gastrointestinal manifestations was not evidently higher than that expected in the general population. Both upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms were significant negative predictors of mBMI and the EQ-5D Index Score (p < 0.001 for all). Conclusions Gastrointestinal symptoms were common in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis and had a significant negative impact on their nutritional status and HRQoL. However, patients with wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis or transthyretin mutations associated with predominantly cardiac complications did not show an increased prevalence of gastrointestinal disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis is a rare, inherited, progressive disease caused by mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. We assessed the safety and efficacy of long-term treatment with patisiran, an RNA interference therapeutic that inhibits TTR production, in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis with polyneuropathy.Methods: This multicentre, open-label extension (OLE) trial enrolled patients at 43 hospitals or clinical centres in 19 countries as of Sept 24, 2018. Patients were eligible if they had completed the phase 3 APOLLO or phase 2 OLE parent studies and tolerated the study drug. Eligible patients from APOLLO (patisiran and placebo groups) and the phase 2 OLE (patisiran group) studies enrolled in this global OLE trial and received patisiran 0·3 mg/kg by intravenous infusion every 3 weeks with plans to continue to do so for up to 5 years. Efficacy assessments included measures of polyneuropathy (modified Neuropathy Impairment Score +7 [mNIS+7]), quality of life, autonomic symptoms, nutritional status, disability, ambulation status, motor function, and cardiac stress, with analysis by study groups (APOLLO-placebo, APOLLO-patisiran, phase 2 OLE patisiran) based on allocation in the parent trial. The global OLE is ongoing with no new enrolment, and current findings are based on the interim analysis of the patients who had completed 12-month efficacy assessments as of the data cutoff. Safety analyses included all patients who received one or more dose of patisiran up to the data cutoff. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02510261.Findings: Between July 13, 2015, and Aug 21, 2017, of 212 eligible patients, 211 were enrolled: 137 patients from the APOLLO-patisiran group, 49 from the APOLLO-placebo group, and 25 from the phase 2 OLE patisiran group. At the data cutoff on Sept 24, 2018, 126 (92%) of 137 patients from the APOLLO-patisiran group, 38 (78%) of 49 from the APOLLO-placebo group, and 25 (100%) of 25 from the phase 2 OLE patisiran group had completed 12-month assessments. At 12 months, improvements in mNIS+7 with patisiran were sustained from parent study baseline with treatment in the global OLE (APOLLO-patisiran mean change -4·0, 95 % CI -7·7 to -0·3; phase 2 OLE patisiran -4·7, -11·9 to 2·4). Mean mNIS+7 score improved from global OLE enrolment in the APOLLO-placebo group (mean change from global OLE enrolment -1·4, 95% CI -6·2 to 3·5). Overall, 204 (97%) of 211 patients reported adverse events, 82 (39%) reported serious adverse events, and there were 23 (11%) deaths. Serious adverse events were more frequent in the APOLLO-placebo group (28 [57%] of 49) than in the APOLLO-patisiran (48 [35%] of 137) or phase 2 OLE patisiran (six [24%] of 25) groups. The most common treatment-related adverse event was mild or moderate infusion-related reactions. The frequency of deaths in the global OLE was higher in the APOLLO-placebo group (13 [27%] of 49), who had a higher disease burden than the APOLLO-patisiran (ten [7%] of 137) and phase 2 OLE patisiran (0 of 25) groups.Interpretation: In this interim 12-month analysis of the ongoing global OLE study, patisiran appeared to maintain efficacy with an acceptable safety profile in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. Continued long-term follow-up will be important for the overall assessment of safety and efficacy with patisiran.Funding: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]