Treatment for ATTR Amyloidosis

Living with ATTR amyloidosis is a complex, progressive disease that affects multiple areas of the body. It can affect the heart, nerves, and other organs. Learning about your treatment options is a key step.¹

Finding your ATTR amyloidosis care team

No single doctor treats this condition. You will likely have a team of specialists. This team works together to manage your care.¹

A cardiologist is a heart doctor. They will manage heart symptoms. A hematologist is an expert in blood disorders. They are also a key part of the team.¹

Because amyloid can affect many organs, your team may grow. You might see a:¹

• Neurologist for nerve problems, like pain or numbness
• Nephrologist to check and protect your kidneys
• Gastroenterologist for any stomach or digestive issues
• Genetic counselor to see if the condition is hereditary (passed down in your family)

This team will create a treatment plan just for you.

What are the main types of treatment?

Treatment goals are to slow the disease. They also aim to manage your symptoms. There are 3 main approaches. These are medicines, organ transplant, and supportive care.^1-3

Medications

Drugs are the main treatment for ATTR amyloidosis. They work in different ways to stop the disease. What medication you take depends on the type of ATTR amyloidosis you have.^1-3

• TTR stabilizers – These drugs stop the TTR protein from breaking apart and misfolding.
• Gene silencers – These drugs tell the liver to make less of the TTR protein. This means there is less protein to build up. Gene silencers are not approved for wild-type ATTR amyloidosis, only for hereditary ATTR amyloidosis.
• TTR depleters – These drugs specifically target the TTR protein buildup. They are designed to find the bad protein buildup in the body. It then sticks to this buildup, "flagging" it for removal.

Organ transplant

In some cases, an organ transplant may be an option.^1-3

• Heart transplant – This may be an option for people with severe heart damage from amyloid.
• Liver transplant – The liver makes the TTR protein. A liver transplant can stop the body from making the faulty protein. This may be considered in patients with hereditary ATTR.
• Combined transplant – In severe situations, a person may need both a heart and a liver transplant.

How does supportive care help manage symptoms?

Supportive care focuses on your quality of life. It does not stop the disease, but it helps you feel better. This care treats the symptoms caused by amyloid buildup.

Managing heart failure

Many people with ATTR amyloidosis have heart failure symptoms. This can include swelling, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Your doctor may prescribe drugs to help manage these symptoms. These often include diuretics (water pills) to reduce fluid buildup. A low-salt diet is a very important part of this care.^1-3

Managing nerve pain

The disease can damage nerves. This is called neuropathy. It can cause pain, numbness, or tingling in the hands and feet. Your doctor can prescribe drugs to help reduce this nerve pain.^1-3

Complementary therapies

These therapies can help you cope with stress and feel better. Gentle, mindful activities like meditation or yoga can be helpful. Many people also join support groups. Talking to others who understand the condition can be a great comfort.^1-3

What lifestyle changes can help?

Healthy lifestyle habits can support your medical treatment. Diet and exercise are key areas to focus on.⁴

Nutritional support

Your doctor will likely suggest a low-sodium diet. Sodium is salt. Eating too much salt makes your body hold on to fluid. This can make heart failure symptoms worse.⁴

A general heart-healthy diet is also good. This means:⁴

• Eating less saturated fat and sugar
• Eating more vegetables, fruits, and lean protein
• Eating smaller, more frequent meals if you feel full quickly

Always talk to your doctor before changing your diet.⁴

Exercise

Staying active is important, but you must be careful. Low-impact exercise is usually best. This includes activities like walking, swimming, or biking.⁴

The most important rule is to pace yourself. Rest when you feel tired. Do not push your body too hard. Listen to what your body tells you. You should also quit smoking and limit alcohol. These steps help protect your heart.⁴

Emerging treatments

Research for ATTR amyloidosis is moving very fast. Several new drugs have been approved recently. For example:^5-7

• Acoramidis (Attruby™) is a TTR stabilizer drug that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024.
• Vutrisiran (Amvuttra™) is a new gene silencer. The FDA approved it in 2025. It is the first drug approved to treat both heart (cardiomyopathy) and nerve (polyneuropathy) symptoms of ATTR.

Scientists are also studying new kinds of treatment, such as:^1,3

• Gene editing – This science (like CRISPR) hopes to be a one-time treatment. It would fix the gene that tells the liver to make the TTR protein.

A plan for your health

Managing ATTR amyloidosis involves a full plan. You will likely have a team of doctors.

Treatment includes drugs to slow the disease. Supportive care helps manage symptoms. Lifestyle changes, especially a low-salt diet, are very important. New treatments are being approved, offering more hope. Always talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan for you.