Amyloidosis is a collection of disorders produced by misfolded transthyretin (TTR) proteins termed amyloid fibrils. When amyloid fibrils gather around organ cells, they impair function. Recently, disease became common.
During the Black Health Matters Virtual Summit last month, Dr. Saith M.D., clinical assistant professor at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, stated that this is changing today. Dr. Saith is a cardiac amyloidosis expert.
Most cardiac diseases are TTR. Hereditary amyloidosis affects predominantly African-Americans.
This sickness is becoming clearer. hATTR: No longer a rare diagnosis. It is more common than we thought. 1 in 25-30 people have it. African Americans (1/500) have sickle cell. Tay-Sachs affects 1 in 250, cystic fibrosis 1 in 2000.
This makes amyloidosis crucial for Black health. U.S. population: 318 million. 38 million are Black. 1.3 million people carry the amyloidosis mutation. 150,000 have amyloidosis.
The slave trade causes this disease. This genetic mutation is frequent in Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Most Afro-Americans and Afro-Caribbeans live in these three nations. 10% of Afro-Caribbean heart failure patients have the hATTR mutation, a London study found.
Amyloid causes cardiac problems. Protein enlarged heart chambers. The septum is thickened. Like a baseball glove. An easy-to-open leather glove. Imagine making that glove from plaster. Opening and closing plaster is difficult.
hATTR patients had limited options a few years ago. The illness, which thickens and weakens the cardiac muscle after age 50 in males and 60 or 70 in women, has a three-year survival rate. Before, treatment choices were restricted.
That’s also changing, thankfully.
It’s an exciting time for amyloidosis research, says Dr. Saith. We’ve simplified illness diagnosis.
Diagnostic cardiac biopsy for amyloidosis. In-office cardiac scans take 6 minutes. IV patisiran inhibits liver TTR production. Tafamidis reduces early-stage disease patients’ mortality risk by 64%. A third treatment is tested.
Scan-MP is recruiting older Black and Hispanic heart failure patients to assess how many have hATTR. This combination of cardiac imaging and blood testing allows researchers to examine heredity and sex variations in heart failure progression.
Early detection and treatment are crucial. Better to diagnose and treat early.
Consult your primary family practice Flossmoor care doctor if you’re having any concerns. If you’re short of breath, exhausted, or anything doesn’t seem right, see your doctor. Talk to your doctor or contact one of our McGowan Family Health and Wellness Center specialists at (708)480-9730. Also visit us on our site to learn about things like Navigating Medical Desserts and more. Together, we make cardiologist recommendations.
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