Characteristics of neuralgia in patients with Fabry disease in China / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To summarize the characteristics of neuralgia in Fabry disease and explore the effects of genders and alpha-galactosidase A (GLA) gene mutation types on neuralgia.Methods:Questionnaires and Brief Pain Inventory evaluations were conducted on the recruited patients diagnosed as Fabry disease in Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital from January 2001 to April 2020. The characteristics of the neuralgia were summarized, and the portrait of neuralgia between male and female patients, and the patient groups carrying truncated mutations and non-truncated mutations of GLA gene was compared.Results:A total of 93 patients with Fabry disease were enrolled. The incidence of neuralgia was 91.4% (85/93),and the average onset age of pain was 9 years. The average remission age was 20 years with the remission incidence of 22.8% (18/79). Pain attack on extremities [96.5%(82/85)] was the most common form. The neuralgia relieving rate of male patients [17.5%(11/63)] was lower than that of females (7/16, χ2=5.01, P=0.025).Brief Pain Inventory scores showed that the degree of most severe pain attack within 24 hours of male patients (4.16±3.20) was higher than that of females (2.07±2.02, t=3.03, P=0.004),and the impact of pain on daily life [male 4 (7) vs female 0 (4), Z=-2.33, P=0.020], walking ability [male 5 (8) vs female 0 (2), Z=-2.87, P=0.004], daily work [male 5 (8) vs female 0 (2), Z=-3.10, P=0.002], relationship [male 2 (6) vs female 0 (3), Z=-2.67, P=0.008] and interests [male 4 (8) vs female 0 (3), Z=-2.81, P=0.005] of male patients was also higher than female patients. The truncated mutation group [1 (2)] only showed higher score on the current pain level than the non-truncated mutation group [0(0), Z=-2.89, P=0.003]. Conclusions:The neuralgia in Chinese patients with Fabry disease showed high incidence and early onset. Male patients presented more severe pain than female which led to a greater impact on life, while the type of GLA gene mutation had less impact on neuralgia.

Increased serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in fabry disease: correlation with disease burden

OBJECTIVES: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal disease caused by variants of the GLA gene; the formation of defective alpha-galactosidase A contributes to the accumulation of substrates in several organs. Chronic inflammation is thought to contribute to organ damage in FD patients. METHODS: In total, 36 classic FD patients (15 men/21 women) and 25 healthy controls (20 men/8 women) were assessed. The Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI) was established after conducting interviews with the patients and chart review. Serum IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels were evaluated in both groups. RESULTS: The mean age (years) for FD patients was 43.1±15.4 and that for the controls was 47.4±12.2 (p>0.05). Twenty-two patients (59.5%) were treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in FD patients than in the controls. Patients treated with ERT had higher serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels than those not treated with ERT. There was no difference in the serum IL-1β levels between patients treated with ERT and those who were not. The MSSI scores in the patients were correlated with serum levels of IL-6 (r=0.60, p<0.001) and TNF-α (r=0.45, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: FD was associated with elevated serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in this cohort. The FD patients treated with ERT, particularly, women, exhibited higher levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α than those not treated with ERT; the serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were correlated with the MSSI scores reflecting greater disease burden.

Higher rate of rheumatic manifestations and delay in diagnosis in Brazilian Fabry disease patients

Abstract Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal disorder due to mutations in the GLA gene resulting in defective enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. FD patients are frequently misdiagnosed, commonly for rheumatic diseases. Determining pathogenicity of a mutation depends of in silico predictions but mostly on available clinical information and interpretation may change in light of evolving knowledge. Similar signs and symptoms in carriers of GLA gene genetic variants of unknown significance or of benign variants may hamper diagnosis. This study reviews rheumatic and immune-mediated manifestations in a cohort of Brazilian FD patients with classic mutations and also in subjects with GLA gene A143T and R118C mutations. Misdiagnoses, time to correct diagnosis or determination of GLA gene status, time to treatment initiation and reasons for treatment prescription in A143T and R118C subjects are reviewed. Methods: Genotype confirmed classic FD patients (n = 37) and subjects with GLA gene mutations A143T and R118C (n = 19) were referred for assessment. Subjects with R118C and A143T mutations had been previously identified during screening procedures at hemodialysis units. All patients were interviewed and examined by a rheumatologist with previous knowledge of disease and/or mutation status. A structured tool developed by the authors was used to cover all aspects of FD and of common rheumatic conditions. All available laboratory and imaging data were reviewed. Results: Thirty-seven consecutive FD patients were interviewed - 16 male / 21 female (mean age: 43.1 years) and 19 consecutive subjects with GLA gene mutations R118C and A143T were evaluated - 8 male / 11 female (mean age: 39.6 years); 15 [R118C] / 4 [A143T]. Misdiagnosis in FD patients occurred in 11 males (68.8%) and 13 females (61.9%) of which 10 males and 9 females were previously diagnosed with one or more rheumatic conditions, most frequently rheumatic fever or "rheumatism" (unspecified rheumatic disorder). Median time for diagnosis after symptom onset was 16 years (range, 0-52 years). Twenty-two patients were treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) - 13 male and 9 female. Median time to ERT initiation after FD diagnosis was 0.5 years (range, 0-15 years). Rheumatic manifestations occurred in 68.4% of R118C and A143T subjects. Two subjects had been prescribed ERT because of renal disease [R118C] and neuropsychiatric symptoms [A143T]. Conclusion: Misdiagnoses occurred in 64.8% of FD patients, most frequently for rheumatic conditions. Median time for correct diagnosis was 16 years. Rheumatic manifestations are also frequent in subjects with GLA gene R118C and A143T mutations. These results reinforce the need to raise awareness and increase knowledge about Fabry disease among physicians, notably rheumatologists, who definitely have a role in identifying patients and determining disease burden. Decision to start treatment should consider expert opinion and follow local guidelines.(AU)

GLA Nonsense Mutation (c.485G>A) in a Three-Generation Family with Fabry’s Disease.

Background: GLA nonsense mutations seem to be associated with more severe clinical phenotype. Aims: Main aims were to identify the disease-causing mutation, to screen high risk family members and to predict the severity of clinical phenotype and age of onset based on genotype-phenotype analysis. Methods: Seven family members were clinically assessed and enzyme activity levels were evaluated as well. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood samples and analyzed for GLA gene mutation. Results: The proband, a 34-year-old man, was misdiagnosed for years. At 25 years of age he was diagnosed with Fabry’s disease. He had a less severe phenotype failing to express cardiac, cerebral or renal symptoms. In addition, the patient presented a ventricular septal defect as an incidental finding which has not been reported previously in Fabry’s disease. His maternal uncle had a severe classic form and, in addition, osteonecrosis of femoral head rarely reported as associated findings. All females were heterozygous; 3 of them were asymptomatic and 2 developed milder symptoms, skin and heart predominantly affected. Fabry’s disease was caused by the presence of GLA nonsense mutation c.485G>A. All close relatives of proband had one copy of the mutation. Conclusion: The family nonsense mutation c.485G>A known to predict the classic phenotype showed a wide range of clinical manifestations from severe to asymptomatic forms both in males and females supporting the intrafamilial phenotypic variability for Fabry’s disease.

The enzymatic activity and genetic analysis of a family with one patient who have both systemic lupus erythematosus with secondary Sj(o)gren's syndrome and Fabry disease / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical information of a family with one patient who have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Fabry disease,as well as the enzymatic activity and gene mutation in these family members.Methods Clinical characteristics were collected from the proband and her family members.Peripheral blood samples from three members of this family were collected and the enzymatic activity was measured by fluorimetrie substrate assay.Genomic DNA was extracted from one male member with significantly decreased enzyme activity,the 7 exons and their flanking introns of GLA gene were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced.Results The enzyme activity of two family members was significantly decreased,the genetic analysis of the male member revealed a missense mutation in exon 2:c.334C＞T (CGC＞TGC)( p.R112C ).Family members except the proband had no definite evidence to support the presence of SLE.Conclusion The coexistence of SLE and Fabry disease is extremely rare.Immunological test,enzymatic activity and gene mutation analysis seem to be helpful for the differential diagnosis.

A female patient of Fabry disease complicated with thin basement membrane nephropathy and investigation of the kindred / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To elucidate the features of clinicopathology and mutation in Fabry disease complicated with thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN), and to investigate the kindred. Methods Data of clinicopathology and gene mutation of a female patient of Fabry disease complicated with TBMN admitted to the Department of Nephro]ogy in our hospital were analyzed. Members of her kindred were investigated simultaneously. Results Proband was a 41-year-old Chinese woman who presented syndrome of Fabry disease and TBMN including angiokeratomas, chronic pain, tinnitus, vertigo, left ventricular hypertrophy and nephropathy as proteinuria, microscopic hematuria and hypertension. A percutaneous renal biopsy was performed on the proband, which was consistent with FSGS and vaculization of podocytes by light microscopy.Electron microscopy showed concentric lamellated inclusions in some podocytes. Diffuse thinning of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) with a mean thickness of (216±31) nm was found. The diagnosis of TBMN with suspected Fabry disease was identified. Family screening showed that her daughter had microscopic hematuria, tinnitus and neuropathic pain. One of her sisters only had microscopic hematuria. The activity of α-galacsidase A (α-Gal A )enzyme in the proband and her daughter was 33 units and 75 units respectively (the normal range is 100 to 500 units). They all carried the novel GLA mutation 1208 ins 21 bp and COL4A3 SNP c: 3627G＞A(p:M1209I). While her sister who only had microscopic hematuria just carried the variant of COL4A3 gene-c:3627G ＞A (p:M1209I), and had the normal activity of α-Gal A with no mutation of GLA.Conclusion TBMN should be considered in the patients of Fabry disease with the condition of benign familial hematuria.

Genomic analysis of Brazilian patients with Fabry disease

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal disorder due to a-galactosidase A deficiency that causes storage of globotriaosylceramide. The gene coding for this lysosomal enzyme is located on the long arm of the X chromosome, in region Xq21.33-Xq22. Disease progression leads to vascular disease secondary to involvement of kidney, heart and the central nervous system. Detection of female carriers based solely on enzyme assays is often inconclusive. Therefore, mutation analysis is a valuable tool for diagnosis and genetic counseling. Many mutations of the a-galactosidase A gene have been reported with high genetic heterogeneity, being most mutations private found in only one family. The disease is panethnic, and estimates of incidence range from about 1 in 40,000 to 60,000 males. Our objective was to describe the analysis of 6 male and 7 female individuals belonging to 4 different Fabry disease families by automated sequencing of the seven exons of the a-galactosidase gene. Sequencing was performed using PCR fragments for each exon amplified from DNA extracted from peripheral blood. Three known mutations and one previously described in another Brazilian family were detected. Of 7 female relatives studied, 4 were carriers. Although the present study confirms the heterogeneity of mutations in Fabry disease, the finding of the same mutation previously detected in another Fabry family from our region raises the possibility of some founder effect, or genetic drift. Finally, the present study highlights the importance of molecular analysis for carrier detection and genetic counseling.