Screening for Fabry disease and Hereditary ATTR amyloidosis in idiopathic small-fiber and mixed neuropathy

Abstract

Introduction: In this study we assessed the value of genetic screening for Fabry disease (FD) and hereditary ATTR amyloidosis in patients with idiopathic small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) or mixed neuropathy in a clinical setting.

Methods: This was a Nordic multicenter study with 9 participating centers. Patients with idiopathic SFN or mixed neuropathy were included. Genetic sequencing of the TTR and GLA genes was performed.

Results: There were 172 patients enrolled in the study. Genetic screening was performed in 155 patients. No pathogenic mutations in the TTR gene were found. A single patient had a possible pathogenic variant, R118C, in the GLA gene, but clinical investigation showed no firm signs of FD.

Discussion: Screening for hereditary ATTR amyloidosis and FD in patients with idiopathic SFN or mixed neuropathy without any additional disease-specific symptoms or clinical characteristics in a Nordic population appears to be of little value in a clinical setting. Muscle Nerve 59:354-357, 2019.

Keywords: Fabry disease; genetic screening study; hereditary ATTR amyloidosis; idiopathic polyneuropathy; small-fiber neuropathy.