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WHEN TO SUSPECT

How can you tell if you or someone you love might have transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM)?

Understand the signs and symptoms

Did you know that some seemingly unrelated signs and symptoms could be caused by ATTR-CM? Your body may be sending you a message.

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Fatigue

(excessive tiredness)

“I’m tired all of the time.”

Tendon Rupture

(eg, biceps, Achilles tendon)

“There is a painful lump in my upper arm.”

STOMACH Issues

(eg, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or feeling full quickly)

“It seems like my stomach is more sensitive lately.”

Shoulder, Hip, and/or Knee Pain

“It’s been years since I had my hip replaced.”

Swelling in Lower Legs

(known as peripheral edema)

“My lower legs and feet look swollen and puffy all the time these days.”

“I have a past medical history of glaucoma.”

Eye Disorders

(eg, glaucoma)

“Sometimes I feel like I can't catch my breath.”

Shortness of Breath

“My doctor says I have an abnormal heartbeat.”

Irregular Heartbeat

(known as cardiac arrhythmia)

“I’ve had carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists for years now.”

Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

(numbness, tingling, or pain in your fingers)

“My doctor told me my back pain is caused by something called lumbar spinal stenosis.”

Pain or Numbness in Lower Back/Legs Due to Narrowing of Lower Spine

(known as lumbar spinal stenosis)

“It feels like my feet are always falling asleep.”

Decreased or Strange Tingling Sensation/Pain in Toes/Feet

(known as peripheral neuropathy)

Understand the signs and symptoms

Did you know that some seemingly unrelated signs and symptoms could be caused by ATTR-CM? Your body may be sending you a message.

Roll over the icons to learn more

tap the icons to learn more

Fatigue

(excessive tiredness)

“I’m tired all of the time.”

Eye Disorders

(ie, glaucoma)

“I have a past medical history of glaucoma.”

Shortness of breath

“Sometimes I feel like I can't catch my breath.”

Irregular Heartbeat

(known as cardiac arrhythmia)

“My doctor says I have an abnormal heartbeat.”

tendon rupture

(eg, biceps, Achilles tendon)

“There is a painful lump in my upper arm.”

Pain or Numbness in Lower Back/Legs Due to Narrowing of Lower Spine

(known as lumbar spinal stenosis)

“My doctor told me my back pain is caused by something called lumbar spinal stenosis.”

Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

(numbness, tingling, or pain in your fingers)

“I’ve had carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists for years now.”

Gastrointestinal issues

(eg, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or feeling full quickly)

“It seems like my stomach is more sensitive lately.”

Shoulder, Hip, and/or Knee Pain

“It’s been years since I had my hip replaced.”

Swelling in Lower Legs

(known as peripheral edema)

“My lower legs and feet look swollen and puffy all the time these days.”

Decreased or Strange Tingling Sensation/Pain in Toes/Feet

(known as peripheral neuropathy)

“It feels like my feet are always falling asleep.”

Initial tests

Your cardiologist may order the following tests to assess how your heart is working and look for signs that may suggest ATTR-CM:

Electrocardiogram or ECG

Reads electrical signals from your heart through wires or electrical sensing leads attached to the skin with sticker-like patches. ECG findings associated with ATTR-CM include, but are not limited to, an irregular heartbeat (ie, atrial fibrillation) or a bundle branch block preventing electrical impulses from making your heart beat efficiently.

Cardiac Imaging

Echocardiogram (ECHO): Uses sound waves captured through a hand-held wand that is placed on your chest to create two- and three-dimensional images of the heart. Echocardiogram 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, also known as HFpEF, which relates to the amount of blood that passes through the heart with each beat.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Uses radio waves, magnets and a computer to create detailed images of your heart. A Cardiac MRI is considered a painless, yet sensitive and specific diagnostic tool that helps identify transthyretin amyloidosis and light chain amyloidosis. However, it is currently unknown whether MRI has the capability to distinguish between amyloid types.

These tests are not typically used to confirm an ATTR-CM diagnosis, though they help your doctor understand more about your heart and if ATTR-CM may be considered as a cause of your symptoms.

NEXT: How ATTR-CM Is Diagnosed