Heterogeneity of penetrance in familial amyloid polyneuropathy, ATTR Val30Met, in the Swedish population

Transthyretin (TTR) familial amyloid polyneuropathies (FAP) are autosomal dominant devastating afflictions. They were first described in Portugal, later in Japan and Sweden and are now recognized worldwide. The TTR Val30Met mutation is the most common, and depending on the geographic origin, a wide variation in age at onset of the disease is observed. In Europe, northern Sweden is the second most prevalent area of the disease, and a late age of onset of 56 years has been reported. The present study aims to estimate the penetrance in TTR Val30Met Swedish families. Genealogical investigations, clinical data and genotyping were obtained in 77 TTR-Val30Met Swedish families. The penetrance in Val30Met carriers and variation within the endemic area, according to gender and transmitting parents were calculated by a newly developed bias-free method. The penetrance estimates were low, i.e. 1.7% and 22% at age 30 and 60 years, respectively, and far from complete (69%) by age 90 years. Differences between Pite and Skelleftea regions were observed. Moreover, penetrance was significantly higher when the mutation was inherited from the mother than from the father. The low penetrance observed in TTR FAP kindreds and its variations is important information for the genetic counseling and treatment of Swedish FAP patients and their families.