Diagnosis of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in patients with suspected chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy unresponsive to intravenous immunoglobulins: results of a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) should be considered in patients diagnosed with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg)-resistant chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (IVIg-NR CIDP). In this 1-year long, retrospective, multicentric study, an online questionnaire was sent to 1100 French healthcare professionals (HCPs) investigating: (i) how many IVIg-NR CIDP patients they followed; (ii) how many IVIg-NR CIDP patients had undergone TTR gene analysis; and (iii) how many IVIg-NR CIDP patients were eventually diagnosed with ATTRv. The questionnaire was sent every 3 months for 1 year and contained information on ATTRv clinical manifestations and diagnosis.

RESULTS

One-hundred and ten (10%) HCPs responded. A total of 2131 patients with CIDP were identified, including 315 (22.1%) with IVIg-NR CIDP. TTR gene analysis was performed in 144 patients and was positive in 43 cases (29.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that ATTRv should be investigated systematically in patients diagnosed with IVIg-NR CIDP. HCP-directed information campaigns are useful for modifying diagnostic practices.