Nerve ultrasound in asymptomatic hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis carriers.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to perform high-resolution nerve ultrasound in asymptomatic carriers of transthyretin (TTR) p.Glu89Gln (p.Glu109Gln) mutation and to evaluate its role as a complementary non-invasive diagnostic tool in early detection of amyloid deposits in peripheral nerves.

METHODS

The study included 21 asymptomatic carriers of TTR p.Glu89Gln (p.Glu109Gln). History, neurological examination, nerve conduction studies, sympathetic skin response, SudoScan and high-resolution nerve ultrasound were performed.

RESULTS

Ultrasound pattern sum score was abnormal in 70% of the carriers. Despite the younger age of male carriers compared to the female carriers the abnormal ultrasound findings were more frequently encountered in males. The latter also demonstrated more pronounced cross-sectional area enlargement of the peroneal nerve at the fibular head and had more frequently ultrasound evidence of median nerve swelling at the wrist. Sural nerves were not enlarged in contrast to radial and fibular superficial nerves which showed male preponderance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest early ultrasound detection of amyloid deposition in presymptomatic TTR p. Glu89Gln (p.Glu109Gln) carriers and demonstrated sex related differences with earlier amyloid deposition in male carriers.

SIGNIFICANCE: As a non-invasive tool nerve ultrasound may be added to the established follow up program for the asymptomatic TTR carriers.