Homage to Paula Coutinho – a pioneer in Portuguese and worldwide neurogenetics

This is a tribute to an outstanding Portuguese neurologist and researcher, Paula Coutinho (1941-2022), who specialized in the care and study of people with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy and Machado-Joseph disease which she helped define. As a result, she collaborated with the inauguration of the Centro de Estudos de Paramiloidose Antônio Rodrigues de Mello (CEPARM) founded in 1984 at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Since then, we admire her commitment to science and patients

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis: baseline characteristics of patients in the NEURO-TTR trial

Background: Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRm) amyloidosis is a rare, progressive and fatal disease with a range of clinical manifestations.Objective: This study comprehensively evaluates disease characteristics in a large, diverse cohort of patients with ATTRm amyloidosis.Methods: Adult patients (N = 172) with Stage 1 or Stage 2 ATTRm amyloidosis who had polyneuropathy were screened and enrolled across 24 investigative sites and 10 countries in the NEURO-TTR trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01737398). Medical and disease history, quality of life, laboratory data, and clinical assessments were analyzed.Results: The NEURO-TTR patient population was diverse in age, disease severity, TTR mutation, and organ involvement. Twenty-seven different TTR mutations were present, with Val30Met being the most common (52%). One third of patients reported early onset disease (before age 50) and the average duration of neuropathy symptoms was 5.3 years. Symptoms affected multiple organs and systems, with nearly 70% of patients exhibiting broad involvement of weakness, sensory loss, and autonomic disturbance. Over 60% of patients had cardiomyopathy, with highest prevalence in the United States (72%) and lowest in South America/Australasia (33%). Cardiac biomarker NT-proBNP correlated with left ventricular wall thickness (p<.001). Quality of life, measured by Norfolk QoL-DN and SF-36 patient-reported questionnaires, was significantly impaired and correlated with disease severity.Conclusions: Baseline data from the NEURO-TTR trial demonstrates ATTRm amyloidosis as a systemic disease with deficits in multiple organs and body systems, leading to decreased quality of life. We report concomitant presentation of polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy in most patients, and early involvement of multiple body systems

Definição e diagnóstico de neuropatia de fibras finas: consenso do Departamento Científico de Neuropatias Periféricas da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia

The aim of this study was to describe the results of a Brazilian Consensus on Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN). Fifteen neurologists (members of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology) reviewed a preliminary draft. Eleven panelists got together in the city of Fortaleza to discuss and finish the text for the manuscript submission. Small fiber neuropathy can be defined as a subtype of neuropathy characterized by selective involvement of unmyelinated or thinly myelinated sensory fibers. Its clinical picture includes both negative and positive manifestations: sensory (pain/ dysesthesias/pruritus) or combined sensory and autonomic complaints, associated with an almost entirely normal neurological examination. Standard electromyography is normal. A growing list of medical conditions is associated with SFN. The classification of SFN may also serve as a useful terminology to uncover minor discrepancies in the normal values from different neurophysiology laboratories. Several techniques may disclose sensory and/or autonomic impairment. Further studies are necessary to refine these techniques and develop specific therapies.O objetivo deste estudo é descrever os resultados de um Consenso Brasileiro sobre Neuropatia de Fibras Finas (NFF). Quinze neurologistas (membros da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia) revisaram uma versão preliminar do artigo. Onze panelistas se reuniram na cidade de Fortaleza para discutir e terminar o texto para a submissão do manuscrito. NFF pode ser definida como um subtipo de neuropatia caracterizada pelo envolvimento seletivo de fibras sensitivas amielínicas ou pouco mielinizadas. Seu quadro clínico inclui manifestações negativas e positivas: sensitivas (dor/disestesias/prurido) ou queixas sensitivas e autonômicas combinadas, associadas a exame neurológico quase totalmente normal. A eletromiografia convencional é normal. Uma lista crescente de condições médicas causa NFF. NFF também pode servir como uma terminologia útil para referenciar pequenas discrepâncias nos valores normais de diferentes laboratórios de neurofisiologia. Diferentes técnicas podem evidenciar anormalidades sensitivas e/ou autonômicas. São necessários mais estudos para refiná-las e para o desenvolvimento de terapias específicas.Univ Fed Ceara, Fac Med, Hosp Univ Walter Cantidio, Fortaleza, CE, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Neurociencias & Hosp Clin, Ribeirao Preto, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Dept Neurol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Cariri, Barbalha, CE, BrazilUniv Fed Fluminense, Fac Med, Dept Neurol, Niteroi, RJ, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Dept Neurol, Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv Regiao Joinville, Joinville, SC, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Neurol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Uberlandia, Fac Med, Uberlandia, MG, BrazilHosp Moinhos De Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Neurol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Inotersen preserves or improves quality of life in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis

Objective: To examine the impact on quality of life (QOL) of patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy treated with inotersen (Tegsedi™) versus placebo. Methods: Data were from the NEURO-TTR trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01737398), a phase 3, multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of inotersen in patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. At baseline and week 66, QOL measures-the Norfolk-QOL-Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) questionnaire and SF-36v2® Health Survey (SF-36v2)-were assessed. Treatment differences in mean changes in QOL from baseline to week 66 were tested using mixed-effect models with repeated measures. Responder analyses compared the percentages of patients whose QOL meaningfully improved or worsened from baseline to week 66 in inotersen and placebo arms. Descriptive analysis of item responses examined treatment differences in specific activities and functions at week 66. Results: Statistically significant mean differences between treatment arms were observed for three of five Norfolk-QOL-DN domains and five of eight SF-36v2 domains, with better outcomes for inotersen than placebo in physical functioning, activities of daily living, neuropathic symptoms, pain, role limitations due to health problems, and social functioning. A larger percentage of patients in the inotersen arm than the placebo arm showed preservation or improvement in Norfolk-QOL-DN and SF-36v2 scores from baseline to week 66. Responses at week 66 showed more substantial problems with daily activities and functioning for patients in the placebo arm than in the inotersen arm. Conclusion: Patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy treated with inotersen showed preserved or improved QOL at 66 weeks compared to those who received placebo.This research was funded by Akcea Therapeutics and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Incinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phase 2 open-label extention (OLE) study of patisiran, an investigational siRNA agent for familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP)

Background: Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is a progressive and fatal, autosomal dominant disease caused by deposition of mutant and wild-type transthyretin (TTR). Patisiran is an investigational, systemically administered lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting wild-type and mutant TTR. This formulation delivers the siRNA predominantly to the liver, thereby inhibiting synthesis of TTR at the primary site of production. A recently completed multi-center, multi-dose Phase 2 trial of patisiran in FAP patients (N=29) showed &gt;80% sustained mean knockdown of serum TTR when administered at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg every 3 weeks with a generally favorable safety profile (Suhr O, ISA 2014). Methods: A Phase 2 open-label extension (OLE) study of patisiran in patients with FAP who participated in the aforementioned trial, was initiated in October 2013. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of 0.3 mg/kg patisiran administered intravenously once every 3 weeks for up to 2 years. Secondary objectives include assessment of patisiran's effect on serum TTR levels, as well as evaluation every 6 months of its impact on clinical measures, including the mNIS+7 composite neurologic impairment score and quality of life (QOL). Results: Twenty-seven patients were enrolled; median age 64 years (range: 29-77 years). Chronic dosing with patisiran has been generally well tolerated. Three patients experienced serious adverse events unrelated to study drug. Flushing and infusion-related reactions were observed in 22.2% and 18.5% of the patients, respectively; these were mild in severity, and did not result in any discontinuations. Sustained mean serum TTR lowering of approximately 80% was achieved, with further mean nadir of up to 88% between doses for approximately 16 months. Stabilization of quality of life (QOL) measures was observed. Among the 20 evaluable patients at the time of data cutoff, neuropathy impairment scores were stable through 12 months with a mean change in mNIS+7 and NIS of -2.5 and 0.4 points, respectively; this compares favorably to the 10-18 point increase in neurologic impairment scores estimated at 12 months from prior FAP studies in a patient population with similar baseline NIS. Conclusion: Data from this Phase 2 OLE study demonstrate that 12-months of patisiran administration was well-tolerated, resulted in sustained mean serum TTR lowering, and has the potential to halt neuropathy progression. As of March 2015, dosing continues for all patients; 18-month results will be presented

Frequency of Cardiovascular Involvement in Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy in Brazilian Patients

Background:Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is a rare disease diagnosed in Brazil and worldwide. The frequency of cardiovascular involvement in Brazilian FAP patients is unknown.Objective:Detect the frequency of cardiovascular involvement and correlate the cardiovascular findings with the modified polyneuropathy disability (PND) score.Methods:In a national reference center, 51 patients were evaluated with clinical examination, electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (ECHO), and 24-hour Holter. Patients were classified according to the modified PND score and divided into groups: PND 0, PND I, PND II, and PND > II (which included PND IIIa, IIIb, and IV). We chose the classification tree as the statistical method to analyze the association between findings in cardiac tests with the neurological classification (PND).Results:ECG abnormalities were present in almost 2/3 of the FAP patients, whereas ECHO abnormalities occurred in around 1/3 of them. All patients with abnormal ECHO also had abnormal ECG, but the opposite did not apply. The classification tree identified ECG and ECHO as relevant variables (p < 0.001 and p = 0.08, respectively). The probability of a patient to be allocated to the PND 0 group when having a normal ECG was over 80%. When both ECG and ECHO were abnormal, this probability was null.Conclusions:Brazilian patients with FAP have frequent ECG abnormalities. ECG is an appropriate test to discriminate asymptomatic carriers of the mutation from those who develop the disease, whereas ECHO contributes to this discrimination

Neuropathy symptom and change: Inotersen treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis

Introduction: Hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR) manifests as multisystem dysfunction, including progressive polyneuropathy. Inotersen, an antisense oligonucleotide, improved the course of neuropathic impairment in patients with hATTR in the pivotal NEURO-TTR study (NCT01737398). To determine inotersen's impact on symptoms and patients' neuropathy experience, we performed a post hoc analysis of the Neuropathy Symptoms and Change (NSC) score. Methods: Stage 1 or 2 hATTR patients were randomized to receive weekly subcutaneous inotersen or placebo for 65 weeks. NSC score was assessed at baseline and 35 and 66 weeks. Results: At 66 weeks, inotersen-treated patients had symptom stabilization as compared with worsening in patients receiving placebo, based on total NSC score. There were also improvements in the subdomains of muscle weakness, sensory, pain, and autonomic symptoms, and for various individual items. Discussion: Inotersen treatment stabilized neuropathy symptoms, including autonomic symptoms, in patients with hATTR according to NSC score. Thus, the NSC may be an effective measure to assess neuropathy progression and patients' neuropathy experience in clinical practice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A phase II, open-label, extension study of long-term patisiran treatment in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis

Background: Patisiran, an RNA interference therapeutic, has demonstrated robust reduction of wild-type and mutant transthyretin protein and was able to improve polyneuropathy and quality of life following 18 months of treatment in patients with hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis.In this 24-month Phase II open-label extension study, we evaluated the effects of patisiran treatment (0.3 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks) on safety, serum transthyretin levels, and clinical parameters. Efficacy assessments included modified Neuropathy Impairment Score +7 (mNIS+7) and multiple disease-relevant measures. Cardiac assessments were performed in a pre-specified cardiac subgroup. Results: Twenty-seven patients entered this study, including 12 (44%) with ambulation difficulties due to their neuropathy and 11 (41%) who met criteria for the cardiac subgroup. During treatment, the majority of adverse events were mild/moderate in severity; there were no drug-related adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. The most common drug-related adverse events were flushing and infusion-related reactions (22% each). Patisiran resulted in rapid, robust (similar to 82%), and sustained reduction of mean transthyretin levels over 24 months. A mean 6.95-point decrease (improvement) in mNIS+7 from baseline was observed at 24 months. Patisiran's impact on mNIS+7 was irrespective of concomitant tafamidis or diflunisal use, sex, or age. Clinical assessments of motor function, autonomic symptoms, disease stage, and quality of life remained stable over 24 months. No significant changes were observed for echocardiographic measures or cardiac biomarkers in the cardiac subgroup. Exploratory analyses demonstrated improvements in nerve-fiber density with corresponding reductions in amyloid burden observed in skin biopsies over 24 months. Conclusions: Long-term treatment with patisiran had an acceptable safety profile and was associated with halting/improvement of polyneuropathy progression in patients with hATTR amyloidosis

Characteristics of patients with autonomic dysfunction in the Transthyretin Amyloidosis Outcomes Survey (THAOS)

Background: Autonomic dysfunction is common in transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis), but its frequency, characteristics, and quality-of-life (QoL) impact are not well understood. Methods: The Transthyretin Amyloidosis Outcomes Survey (THAOS) is an ongoing, global, longitudinal survey of patients with ATTR amyloidosis, including patients with inherited (ATTRv) and wild-type (ATTRwt) disease and asymptomatic patients with TTR mutations (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00628745). In a descriptive analysis, characteristics and Norfolk QoL-DN total (TQoL) scores at enrolment were compared in patients with vs without autonomic dysfunction (analysis cut-off: 1 August 2020). Results: Autonomic dysfunction occurred in 1181/2922 (40.4%) symptomatic patients, and more commonly in ATTRv (1107/1181 [93.7%]) than ATTRwt (74/1181 [6.3%]) amyloidosis. Time (mean [SD]) from ATTR amyloidosis symptom onset to first autonomic dysfunction symptom was shorter in ATTRv (3.4 [5.7] years) than ATTRwt disease (9.7 [10.4]). In ATTRv disease, patients with vs without autonomic dysfunction had worse QoL (TQoL, 47.3 [33.2] vs 16.1 [18.1]); in ATTRwt disease, those with vs without autonomic dysfunction had similar QoL (23.0 [18.2] vs 19.9 [20.5]). Conclusions: Autonomic dysfunction was more common and presented earlier in symptomatic ATTRv than ATTRwt amyloidosis and adversely affected QoL in ATTRv disease. These THAOS findings may aid clinicians in diagnosing and treating patients with ATTR amyloidosis. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00628745