get the picture

diagnosing
attr‑cm

If your doctor suspects ATTR‑CM, they may conduct certain tests to help confirm a diagnosis.

Awareness among patients, and even physicians, remains low, which results in ATTR‑CM being significantly underdiagnosed.

Underdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis occur because the symptoms of ATTR‑CM mimic those of other more common causes of heart failure.

Some ATTR‑CM patients report visiting up to 5 different doctors before receiving the correct diagnosis.^*

^*2017 survey conducted by the Amyloidosis Research Consortium and prior to an available treatment option.

It's important to share any symptoms you are experiencing with your doctor. Diagnosing ATTR‑CM early is important so that you can begin appropriate treatment.

It’s important to talk to your doctor if you suspect ATTR‑CM

video

“I suspect that every journey is unique. I have been fortunate in that I got an early diagnosis.”

Watch Dempsey’s Story

Clinical tests to look for signs that may suggest ATTR‑CM

Your cardiologist may first order the following tests to assess how your heart is working and look for signs of ATTR‑CM. These tests may include:

ECG

Electrocardiogram

Reads electrical signals from your heart
Can reveal conditions like irregular heartbeat (ie, atrial fibrillation), among other findings, that may be related to ATTR‑CM

ECHO

Echocardiogram

Uses sound waves to create images of your heart
Findings help determine the speed and direction of blood flow in the heart
Findings associated with ATTR‑CM include, but are not limited to, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), which relates to the amount of blood that passes through the heart with each beat

Cardiac MRI

Cardiac magnetic
resonance imaging

Uses radio waves, magnets, and a computer to create images of your heart to look for abnormalities

While none of these tests are typically used to confirm an ATTR‑CM diagnosis, they can help your doctor learn more about your heart and determine the need for additional diagnostic testing.

Faye’s road to diagnosis

video

“My cardiologist did an ECG and an echocardiogram,
which led me to my ATTR‑CM diagnosis.”

Watch Faye’s Story

Ruling out another type of
amyloidosis affecting your heart

Your doctor must rule out another form of cardiac amyloidosis, known as light-chain (AL) amyloidosis:

This is an important step, as AL amyloidosis and ATTR‑CM are managed in different ways
AL amyloidosis is ruled out using blood and urine tests

Diagnostic tests

Once AL amyloidosis is ruled out, your doctor may use the following tests to diagnose ATTR-CM:

Nuclear scintigraphy

A noninvasive imaging test

A substance called a tracer is injected into your body
After 1-3 hours, a special camera takes images of your body
These images can help your doctor understand if transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils are present in your heart
This test is also referred to as a PYP (pyrophosphate) scan
- PYP is not FDA approved for the diagnosis of ATTR‑CM. Please consult individual labeling for risks

Cardiac biopsy

Samples taken from your
heart muscle tissue

Your cardiologist conducts the biopsy while you are awake
If amyloid fibrils are found in the removed tissue sample, it is sent out to a lab
The lab can help determine whether or not they are TTR amyloid strands
Your doctor may also do biopsies from other parts of your body—but a cardiac biopsy is more accurate to detect ATTR‑CM

The importance of genetic testing

If you are diagnosed with ATTR-CM, genetic testing and counseling are recommended to confirm or rule out the hereditary form of ATTR-CM

Genetic testing

Will help confirm or rule out the hereditary form of ATTR‑CM (hATTR)
Determines whether family members are at risk, as the mutation that causes hATTR can be passed down
Is usually performed using blood or saliva samples