Parenteral nutrition improves nutritional status, autonomic symptoms and QoL in patients with TTR-FAP

Background Transthyretin related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) is an inherited form of amyloidosis, leading to death in about 10 years in most cases for cardiac failure or wasting syndrome. Previous study showed that modified body mass index (mBMI) was related to time before death, duration of gastrointestinal disturbances, malabsorption and functional capacity. Futhermore, outcome after liver tranplantation was greater in patients with an mBMI over 600.

Transthyretin-Related Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP): A Single-Center Experience in Sicily, an Italian Endemic Area

Abstract Background: Familial amyloid polyneuropathy related to transthyretin gene (TTR-FAP) is a life-threatening disease transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Val30Met mutation accounts for the majority of the patients with large endemic foci especially in Portugal, Sweden and Japan. However, more than one hundred other mutations have been described worldwide. A great phenotypic variability among patients with late- and early-onset has been reported. Objective: To present a detailed report of TTR-FAP patients diagnosed in our tertiary neuromuscular center, in a 20-year period. Methods: Clinical informations were gathered through the database of our center. Results: The study involve…

Monitoring effectiveness and safety of Tafamidis in transthyretin amyloidosis in Italy: a longitudinal multicenter study in a non-endemic area

Tafamidis is a transthyretin (TTR) stabilizer able to prevent TTR tetramer dissociation. There have been a few encouraging studies on Tafamidis efficacy in early-onset inherited transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) due to Val30Met mutation. However, less is known about its efficacy in later disease stages and in non-Val30Met mutations. We performed a multi-center observational study on symptomatic ATTR patients prescribed to receive Tafamidis. We followed up patients according to a standardized protocol including general medical, cardiological and neurological assessments at baseline and every 6 months up to 3 years. Sixty-one (42 males) patients were recruited. Only 28 % of enrolled subjects h…

SPORT AND NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES -PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS ON A COHORT OF RARE DISEASES-

Parenteral nutrition improves nutritional status, autonomic symptoms and quality of life in transthyretin amyloid polyneuropathy

Transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) is an inherited amyloidosis, leading to death in about ten years in most cases due to cardiac failure or wasting syndrome. Previous studies showed that modified body mass index was related to time before death, duration of gastrointestinal disturbances, malabsorption and functional capacity. We report two patients in whom nutritional status worsened despite diet modification, hypercaloric supplement and two relevant therapeutic approaches such as liver transplant and tafamidis meglumine, respectively. The first patient, a 52-year-old lady carrying Thr49Ala mutation, had a disease duration of twelve years and had lost weight up to 35 kg…