ATTR Awareness Day @ Sarawak Heart Centre

TRANSTHYRETIN AMYLOIDOSIS PATIENTS’ AWARENESS DAY

Sarawak Heart Foundation joined Sarawak Heart Centre and Pfizer Malaysia for a Transthyretin Amyloidosis (ATTR Amyloidosis) Patients’ Awareness Day at Sarawak Heart Centre on 23 July 2022.

The event, organised by Sarawak Heart Centre, brought together patients and family members who have benefitted from the genetic testing for inherited cardiovascular disease sponsored by the Foundation.

While Dr Oon, neurologist Dr Abby Hoo and Nuclear Medicine specialist Dr Mohammad Fitri Bin Khalil spoke about the disease, who are at risk and the importance of early screening, the patients shared their stories on living with the disease.   

The Foundation contributed RM50,000 to set up the fund for genetic testing for inherited cardiovascular disease, initiated by consultant cardiologist Dr Oon Yen Yee of Sarawak Heart Centre in 2021. To date, 37 patients and family members have benefitted from the genetic testing.

The fund is to assist the lower income group to pay for the genetic testing, which at the same time, helps the treating cardiologists to diagnose rare inherited heart problems such as transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy and Fabry disease.