Dr. Melissa Hershman, assistant professor from the OHSU Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, provides an informative overview of how, and where, amyloidosis can present in the G.I. tract. She reviews patient symptoms, many of which are nonspecific and can be associated with other more common issues, delaying diagnosis. Dr. Hershman goes through how G.I. amyloidosis is tested for, where in the G.I. tract biopsies are most commonly performed, and how the tissue is stained for diagnosis by pathology. In closing, she reviews the array of treatments available to assist patients.
Slider
Patient Insights: West African Descent – BE AWARE!
Our patient speakers at the Amyloidosis Speakers Bureau are powerful educators and offer compelling insights. Have a listen to this brief clip from Greg with his call out to those of West African descent — BE AWARE there is a high prevalence believed to be carriers of hereditary amyloidosis.
For those that would like a more clinical explanation of this genetical variant, we invite you to view this video by Dr. Kevin Alexander, advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at the Stanford Amyloid Center. In it he discusses transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) and how today this is a “common rare disease,” more prevalent than previously appreciated. He summarizes findings from a study to understand diagnosis across the U.S. and how ATTR-CM disproportionately affects black individuals. This statistic is driven by the belief that 3-4% of African descendants carry the V122I TTR variant – translating to over 1 million carriers. Kevin offers a screening algorithm for who to screen for ATTR-CM, and examines sub-groups of African Americans that are important not to overlook.
The Future for Patients with Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis is Looking Brighter
The treatment for patients with Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis has advanced significantly since 2018 when there were no FDA-approved therapies. In this presentation, Dr. Mat Maurer from Columbia University shares how diagnostic imaging techniques have significantly improved, thereby reducing the need for an invasive heart biopsy. In addition, he shares fascinating statistics on how the age and stage of diagnosis has been evolving. Based on today’s clinical trials, providers are optimistic that the expansion of options for patient care will continue.
The future is indeed looking brighter.
