Healthcare teams involved in ATTR-CM care
Throughout your diagnostic and treatment journey, you may have appointments with different types of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. This may feel confusing, but each member of the team will be there to provide you with the specific care that you need.
Amyloidosis does not just affect your heart; it can also impact other parts of your body, including your kidneys, digestive system, and nerves, and so cause different symptoms. This means you may need to see more than one type of doctor.
Having a team of doctors with different skills and knowledge means that you will get care that supports all parts of your health so that you can continue living a full life.
Cardiologists
Your cardiologist (heart specialist) will usually be your main doctor, as they will have been involved in confirming your diagnosis of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). They will explain your test results, answer your questions, and help you decide on the most appropriate options for your treatment and care.
Learn more about the process of diagnosing ATTR-CM here.
Other doctors involved in your care
Your cardiologist will work with other specialist doctors and teams, depending on which type of ATTR-CM you have and the parts of your body that are affected. These may include:
- Genetic specialists: If your doctor suspects variant-type ATTR-CM, this type of doctor can confirm whether it runs in your family
- Nephrologists (kidney doctors): If amyloid has affected your kidneys
- Neurologists (nerve and brain doctors): If you have symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness
- Gastroenterologists (digestive system doctors): If your digestive system is affected
- General Practitioner (GP): Your GP or primary care provider can remain your point of contact for referrals for additional care, such as mental health support
- Nurses: Nurses may be involved in guiding you and your caregivers, explaining the disease, outlining treatment options, answering questions, and, in many cases, administering your treatment
Working together, your healthcare team is designed to speed up the time to diagnosis, look after your overall wellbeing, and support your daily life.
Additional support
Beyond your healthcare team, you may also find it helpful to join a support group where you can connect with other people living with ATTR-CM and learn from each other's experiences.
There are also many ways you can receive support for your mental health. If you are feeling low, worried, or anxious about the future, you might want to consider seeing a therapist or counsellor to help you manage how you are feeling.
Learn more about how you can protect your mental health here.
Professor Marianna Fontana is a Professor of Cardiology and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the National Amyloidosis Centre, London, UK.
