What a great question — and it sounds like you're being very thorough with your testing! Sending strength right back to you. 💪
To answer directly: yes, ATTR amyloidosis — whether hereditary (hATTR) or wild-type (wATTR) — can affect the heart (ATTR-CM), nerves, and other tissues like bones and ligaments, sometimes all at Show Full Answer
What a great question — and it sounds like you're being very thorough with your testing! Sending strength right back to you. 💪
To answer directly: yes, ATTR amyloidosis — whether hereditary (hATTR) or wild-type (wATTR) — can affect the heart (ATTR-CM), nerves, and other tissues like bones and ligaments, sometimes all at once.
Here's a quick breakdown of how ATTR can show up in different parts of the body:
- Heart (ATTR-CM): Amyloid deposits stiffen the heart muscle, making it harder to pump blood effectively
- Nerves: Deposits in nerves can cause tingling, numbness, or "pins and needles" in hands and feet — this is more common in hereditary ATTR
- Wrists: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a well-known early sign of both types
- Spine/Bones: Deposits in spinal ligaments can cause spinal stenosis, leading to back pain or leg numbness One MyAmyloidosisTeam member shared that four of their five siblings were being treated for ATTR amyloidosis, and two brothers had also previously been treated for carpal tunnel syndrome — showing just how varied the symptoms can be across the same condition.
The key difference between hereditary and wild-type is the cause — a gene mutation versus normal protein misfolding with aging — but both types can lead to ATTR-CM and affect other tissues.
Your care team is clearly on the right track with the tests you've described. Hang tight for those results — early diagnosis really does make a meaningful difference in managing this condition. 🙏
May 5
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