What is Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)

WHAT IS ATTR-CM?

ATTR-CM is short for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, a type of cardiac amyloidosis

Cardiac amyloidosis is a disorder caused by deposits of an abnormal protein, also known as ‘amyloid’, in the heart tissue. Over time, these proteins replace normal tissue and make it hard for the heart to work properly, leading to heart failure.^1–3

ATTR-CM is associated with a specific protein called transthyretin, which when unstable, loses its structure and forms amyloid fibrils (small or thin fibres) that get deposited in the heart. ATTR-CM can be life-threatening and is often underdiagnosed and untreated, which may lead to heart failure.^1,2,4

FURTHER INFORMATION FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

SUSPECT

References

Siddiqi OK et al. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2018;28:10–21.
González-López E et al. Rev Esp Cardiol 2017;70:991–1004.
Martinez-Naharro et al. Clin Med (Lond) 2018;18(Suppl 2):s30-s35.
Witteles RM et al. JACC Heart Fail 2019;7(8):709–16.
Donnelly J and Hanna M. Cleve Clin J Med 2017;84(12 Suppl 3):12–26.
Badar T et al. F1000Res 2018;7. pii: F1000 Faculty Rev–1348. doi: 0.12688/f1000research.15353.1.
Nuvolone M and Merlini G. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2017;32:770–80.
Australian Amyloidosis Network. What are the symptoms of amyloidosis? Available at: http://amyloidosis.net.au/patients-and-carers/what-is-amyloidosis/ Accessed May 2020.
Maurer MS et al. Circulation 2017;135:1357–77.
Sipe JD et al. Amyloid 2016;23:209–13.
Nativi-Nicolau J et al. Curr Opin Cardiol 2018;33:571–79.
Rapezzi C et al. Circulation 2009;120:1203–12.
Dubrey SW et al. Heart 2011;97:75–84.
Weber N et al. Intern Med J 2015;45:371–82.
Tanskanen M et al. Ann Med 2008;40:232–9.
Australian Amyloidosis Network. ATTR amyloidosis. www.amyloidosis.net.au/health-professionals/amyloidosis-types/attr/ Accessed May 2020.