Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis in Austria: Clinical, Genetic, and Demographic Insights from a Nationwide Cohort
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is a heterogeneous multisystem disease caused by pathogenic transthyretin gene (<i>TTR</i>) variants. Increased awareness and availability of disease-modifying therapies have resulted in increased diagnoses, even in previously nonendemic regions. The aim of this study was to update the nationwide Austrian ATTRv registry by characterizing the clinical, genetic, and regional distribution of <i>TTR</i> variants. <b>Methods</b>: This multicenter, observational analysis examined ATTRv cases diagnosed in Austria between 2014 and 2025. Individuals were included according to the presence of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants or variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) in <i>TTR</i>. <b>Results</b>: In total, 100 individuals were identified, including symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. Compared with our previously presented data, the number of genetically confirmed ATTRv cases has more than doubled. Twenty-three <i>TTR</i> variants were identified. The most frequent pathologic variants were p.His108Arg (26%), p.Ile127Phe (11%), and p.Thr69Ile (9%), while p.Val113Leu (9%) represented the most frequent VUS. Significant regional clustering of p.His108Arg was documented in Vienna and Lower Austria. Other findings included a rising number of p.Val142Ile carriers and phenotypically relevant VUSs in 20 patients. <b>Conclusions</b>: Our findings revealed an increasing detection rate of ATTRv in a nonendemic European region. These data underscore the importance of multidisciplinary evaluation, cascade testing, and long-term monitoring to improve early diagnosis and timely management in hereditary amyloidosis.
Authors
- Michaela Auer‐Grumbach (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6609-8918)
- Hermine Agis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1125-0211)
- Klemens Ablasser
- Maria Ungericht (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2098-9772)
- Viktoria Höller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7024-2131)
- Nicolas Verheyen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7414-4056)
- Theresa Antonia Griedl
- Michael Poledniczek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6091-9823)
- Sandra Hacker
- Christina Kronberger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3866-3710)
- Nora Schwegel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8736-9625)
- Christian Reiter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5155-4017)
- Reinhard Windhager
- Deddo Mörtl
- Franz Duca
- Roza Badr Eslam
- Raute Sunder-Plassmann
- D Bonderman
- Hakan Cetin
- René Rettl
- Wolfgang N. Löscher
- Vera E. A. Kleinveld
- Christina Binder
- Elisabeth Schaumberger
- Nikita Ermolaev
- Lena Marie Schmid
- Lukas Kellermair
- Andreas Kammerlander
- Fritz Zimprich
Institutions
- Innsbruck Medical University (AT)
- Universität Innsbruck (AT)
- Medical University of Graz (AT)
- Graz University Hospital (AT)
- Convent Hospital of the Brothers of Saint John of God (AT)
- Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten (AT)
- Kepler Universitätsklinikum (AT)
- University Hospital Innsbruck (AT)
- Medical University of Vienna (AT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Published
- 2026-03-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15051958
- Primary Topic
- Amyloidosis: Diagnosis, Treatment, Outcomes
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Pfizer
- Austrian Science Fund