title: Recommendations for presymptomatic genetic testing and management of individuals at risk for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  These recommendations highlight recent experience in genetic counselling for the severe autosomal-dominant, late-onset transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) disease, and present a structured approach towards identification and monitoring of asymptomatic carriers of the mutated gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effectiveness of current treatment options is still limited in patients with TTR-FAP beyond stage I. Diagnosis in the early stages of TTR-FAP is essential to prevent or delay the progression of disease. Existing legal and cultural issues differ among countries within Europe. Experts of the European Network for TTR-FAP (ATTReuNET) concluded that genetic counselling for diagnosed individuals and at-risk family members is mostly beneficial and should be carried out with care by trained professionals. Systematic and regular monitoring of an asymptomatic carrier is necessary to detect early signs of TTR-FAP and maximize the effectiveness of treatment. This includes five areas of assessment: history/clinical examination, sensorimotor function, autonomic dysfunction, cardiac function, and renal function. At least two related symptoms and positive biopsy findings are required to confirm diagnosis of TTR-FAP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early detection of TTR-FAP is essential to improve the prognosis of TTR-FAP. ATTReuNET recommends genetic counselling and routine monitoring for asymptomatic carriers of TTR-FAP.
authors.affiliation: aAmyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy bDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands cServicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Son Llatzer, Palma de Mallorca, Spain dCHU Bicêtre (APHP), Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France eDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden fHospital Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal gCyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Obici
authors.forename: Jan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kuks
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buades
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Ole B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Suhr
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kyriakides
mesh_terms: D028227:Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D019468:Disease Management; D018450:Disease Progression; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans