Treatment of transthyretin-associated familial amyloid polyneuropathy is currently primarily with medications that reduce expression or “silence” the TTR gene to prevent further progression of amyloidosis. Prior to the approval of these gene-silencing therapies, treatment included amyloid stabilizing medications to prevent misfolding of the protein and liver transplantation.
Four gene-silencing treatments for patients with hATTR polyneuropathy have been approved in the United States; three are currently available for prescribing. Patisiran and inotersen were initially approved as therapies, and they have been largely replaced by the newer formulations of vutrisiran and eplontersen.
Patisiran and vutrisiran are RNA-interfering drugs that target the 3’ untranslated region of transthyretin mRNA in the liver and inhibit the synthesis of both mutant and wild-type transthyretin protein. The APOLLO study, published in 2018, was a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial in which intravenous patisiran or placebo was given every 3 weeks over 18 months. The patisiran treatment group had improved outcome when compared to placebo in a number of measurements of neuropathy severity and quality of life. Over half of the patients treated with patisiran in this trial had improvement in their neuropathy impairment score over the course of the study. The most common side effects were related to infusion reactions (02). Open label extension studies of the phase II and APOLLO trials of patisiran demonstrated continued improvement in neuropathy impairment scores with extended use. Exploratory analyses showed improved nerve fiber density and reduced amyloid burden in skin biopsies (04).
Vutrisiran is an RNAi therapy that utilizes a similar mechanism as patisiran to reduce TTR production. A lipid nanoparticle formulation directs the drug to the liver, which is the primary site of transthyretin protein production. It is administered subcutaneously once every 3 months. In the 2022 HELIOS-A study, vutrisiran was demonstrated to be noninferior to patisiran in reducing TTR production and met primary clinical endpoints when compared to the historical controls from the APOLLO study (06). Vutrisiran is also approved for treatment of TTR amyloid cardiomyopathy, both hereditary and wild type (25).
Inotersen and the newer eplontersen are antisense oligonucleotide drugs that target the transthyretin RNA transcript, reducing production of transthyretin protein. The NEURO-TTR study, also published in 2018, was a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial in which patients were treated with either inotersen or placebo subcutaneously three times in the first week followed by once weekly over 64 weeks (10). Results from this study showed that patients receiving inotersen when compared to placebo had better outcome in neuropathy severity scores and quality of life. Thirty-six percent of patients receiving inotersen had improvements in neuropathy impairment score over the course of the study. Glomerulonephritis and thrombocytopenia were noted as adverse events in the inotersen treatment group; thus, this drug has been replaced with eplontersen, which does not have these side effects. Open label extension studies of inotersen showed continued benefit in those continuing on the medication, and those patients who switched from placebo to inotersen had improvement in scores of neuropathy severity and quality of life (15).
Eplontersen is an antisense oligonucleotide therapy, similar to inotersen, that also targets hepatic transthyretin synthesis. It is administered subcutaneously once monthly. The 2023 NEURO-TTRansform study was an open-label, single-group phase 3 trial that showed the eplontersen treatment group with significantly lower serum transthyretin levels, less neuropathy impairment, and better quality of life compared to historical placebo (21).
Now that multiple therapies for hATTR polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Selection of which RNA-interfering therapy to prescribe for any given patient may be driven by accessibility of infusion facilities, medical comorbidity, and insurance benefits/costs.
Other TTR gene silencing therapies in development include those using a CRISPR-Cas9 system for gene editing. A 2021 study reported safety and pharmacodynamic effects of a single dose of CRISPR-Cas9 based gene editing therapy, with 87% reduction in TTR protein concentration at the highest tested dose (26). Longer-term follow up studies of safety and efficacy of this therapy are planned.
Prior to the approval of siRNA and antisense oligonucleotide therapies, the primary treatment strategies for the management of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis were amyloid stabilization with tafamidis and liver transplantation. Tafamidis and acoramidis are amyloid stabilizing therapies currently approved in the United States for treatment of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, but not polyneuropathy (38; 27). Other amyloid stabilizers historically used for the treatment of amyloidosis include diflunisal, doxycycline, and tauroursodeoxycholic acid, but these therapies have largely been replaced by the gene silencer and newer stabilizer therapies described above.
It is not known whether the combination of an amyloid stabilizing medication together with a TTR suppressing therapy is superior to use of the gene silencing therapies alone.
Liver transplantation, which was historically considered the most definitive therapy for hereditary TTR amyloidosis, has also been largely replaced by gene silencer therapies but may be considered in patients undergoing concurrent heart transplant for amyloid cardiomyopathy (08; 53).
In addition to amyloid stabilization and reduction of transthyretin production through either RNA interference therapy or liver transplantation, patients with hATTR polyneuropathy require symptomatic management of peripheral neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction. Pain is common and can be treated with medications typically used for management of neuropathic pain, including gabapentin, pregabalin, duloxetine, tricyclic antidepressants, and others. For patients with significant weakness, ankle foot orthotics and other bracing measures can help with mobility. Assistive devices and physical therapy are critical for fall prevention.
Autonomic dysfunction in patients with amyloidosis can be challenging to manage, but a number of medications can be used to treat autonomic symptoms. Treatments for orthostatic hypotension include elimination of medications that reduce intravascular volume or lower blood pressure, liberal salt and fluid intake, use of compression stockings, and pharmacologic treatment. Medications that can be prescribed for orthostatic hypotension include midodrine, fludrocortisone, and droxidopa (42). Caution must be taken with these agents in patients with significant cardiomyopathy. Pyridostigmine can also be used to treat orthostatic hypotension and has less risk of causing supine hypertension. Treatment of urinary dysfunction can include pelvic floor exercises, duloxetine, intermittent catheterization, antimuscarinic agents, pyridostigmine, and botulinum injections (13). Treatment of gastrointestinal dysmotility due to amyloidosis can include dietary changes and nutritional supplementation, erythromycin, metoclopramide, and other promotility agents. For diarrhea related to amyloidosis, cholestyramine, loperamide, and octreotide can be used (40).
Patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis have an increased risk for entrapment neuropathies, particularly carpal tunnel syndrome at the wrist. In some cases, referral for carpal tunnel release surgery is indicated to alleviate progressive sensory loss and weakness in the hands. Patients are also at increased risk for spinal stenosis. In cases of severe spinal stenosis, surgical management in collaboration with neurosurgery or orthopedic surgery may be necessary.
Multidisciplinary care is critical for the management of patients with hATTR polyneuropathy and has been recommended by a European consensus statement on the diagnosis and management of the disease (05). The physician team typically includes at least a neurologist, cardiologist, and ophthalmologist. In evaluation of patients with amyloidosis of uncertain cause, oncologists and nephrologists are often involved. Geneticists and genetic counselors are key to guiding testing in patients and asymptomatic family members (39). Many allied health providers are critical for multidisciplinary care, including physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, social workers, and many others.
Other supportive measures are discussed in the article titled “Peripheral neuropathies: supportive measures and rehabilitation.”
As physicians and patients become aware of the hereditary nature of TTR amyloidosis and access to genetic testing has increased, some patients are being diagnosed as TTR gene mutation carriers prior to developing signs or symptoms of amyloidosis. Recommendations suggest clinical and diagnostic testing to evaluate for polyneuropathy and cardiomyopathy in newly identified TTR variant carriers. Treatment, however, should only be initiated with evidence of peripheral neuropathy or cardiomyopathy, given many gene mutation carriers will live many years or decades before developing any signs or symptoms of disease (32).
Outcomes
As discussed, treatment of hATTR polyneuropathy with TTR gene silencing therapies results in slowed progression, and in some cases improvement in scores of neuropathy severity. Treatment earlier in the course of the neuropathy before severe axonal loss and weakness has developed results in better outcomes.