Switch from agalsidase beta to agalsidase alfa in the enzyme replacement therapy of patients with Fabry disease in Latin America.

There are currently two available enzyme replacement therapies for Fabry disease and little information regarding efficacy and safety of switching therapies. Between 2009 and 2012 there was a worldwide shortage of agalsidase beta and patients on that enzyme were switched to agalsidase alfa. This retrospective observational study assessed a 2-year period of efficacy and safety in a population of Fabry patients, in Argentina (30 patients) and Venezuela (3 patients), who switched therapies from algasidase beta to agalsidase alfa. Thirty-three patients completed 24-months follow-up after the switch (age 32.4 ± 2.0, range 10.0-55.9 years; male: female 23:10). Measures of renal function such as estimated glomerular filtration rate remained almost unchanged in 31 patients without end stage renal disease over the 2 years after switching and urine protein excretion continued stable. Cardiac functional parameters: left ventricular mass index, interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall showed no significant change from baseline in the 33 patients. Quality of life, pain and disease severity scores were mostly unchanged after 24-months and agalsidase alfa was generally well tolerated. Our findings showed there is no significant change in the efficacy measured through the renal or cardiac function, quality of life, pain, disease severity scoring and safety for at least 2 years after switching from agalsidase beta to agalsidase alfa.

Switch from agalsidase beta to agalsidase alfa in the enzyme replacement therapy of patients with fabry disease in Latin America

There are currently two available enzyme replacement therapies for Fabry disease and little information regarding efficacy and safety of switching therapies. Between 2009 and 2012 there was a worldwide shortage of agalsidase beta and patients on that enzyme were switched to agalsidase alfa. This retrospective observational study assessed a 2-year period of efficacy and safety in a population of Fabry patients, in Argentina (30 patients) and Venezuela (3 patients), who switched therapies from algasidase beta to agalsidase alfa. Thirty-three patients completed 24-months follow-up after the switch (age 32.4 ± 2.0, range 10.0-55.9 years; male: female 23:10). Measures of renal function such as estimated glomerular filtration rate remained almost unchanged in 31 patients without end stage renal disease over the 2 years after switching and urine protein excretion continued stable. Cardiac functional parameters: left ventricular mass index, interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall showed no significant change from baseline in the 33 patients. Quality of life, pain and disease severity scores were mostly unchanged after 24-months and agalsidase alfa was generally well tolerated. Our findings showed there is no significant change in the efficacy measured through the renal or cardiac function, quality of life, pain, disease severity scoring and safety for at least 2 years after switching from agalsidase beta to agalsidase alfa.

Actualmente hay disponibles dos terapias de reemplazo enzimático en enfermedad de Fabry y existe poca información sobre la eficacia y seguridad del cambio de una a la otra. Entre 2009 y 2012 hubo falta a nivel mundial de agalsidasa beta y los pacientes tratados hasta entonces con esa enzima iniciaron tratamiento con agalsidasa alfa. El presente estudio retrospectivo, observacional evaluó la eficacia y seguridad a 2 años en pacientes con enfermedad de Fabry en Argentina (30 pacientes) y Venezuela (3 pacientes), que cambiaron su tratamiento de agalsidasa beta a agalsidasa alfa. Treinta y tres pacientes completaron 24 meses de seguimiento post-cambio (edad 32.4 ± 2.0; rango 10.0-55.9; hombre: mujer 23:10). La función renal, medida con la tasa de filtrado glomerular, se mantuvo sin cambios en 31 pacientes sin enfermedad renal terminal durante 2 años post-cambio. La secreción de proteína en orina continuó estable. Los parámetros de función cardíaca -índice de masa ventricular izquierda, septum interventricular, espesor de la pared posterior ventricular- no mostraron cambios significativos post-cambio de terapia en los 33 pacientes. La calidad de vida, el dolor y la gravedad de la enfermedad se mantuvieron mayormente estables luego de 24 meses, y la agalsidasa alfa fue generalmente bien tolerada. Nuestros resultados muestran que no hay cambios significativos en la eficacia medida por la función renal y cardíaca, en la seguridad y en los valores de la calidad de vida, el dolor o la gravedad de la enfermedad durante al menos 2 años luego del cambio de agalsidasa beta a agalsidasa alfa.

Enfermedad de Fabry: la importancia de la terapia de reemplazo enzimático (TRE): tratar rápida y eficazmente / Fabry Disease: the importance of the, enzyme replacement therapy (TRE): treating quickly and efficiently

La enfermedad de Fabry en un trastorno lisosomal por ausencia o deficiencia de la enzima Alfa galactosidasa A que genera un acúmulo patológico de glicoesfingolípidos principalmente en células endoteliales, musculares lisas de vasos sanguíneos y podocitos entre otras. La terapia de reemplazo enzimático es la única chance de tratamiento específico a la fecha. El creciente conocimiento de los mecanismos fisiopatológicos ha llevado a cambiar el manejo de la enfermedad y por sobretodo el momento de inicio del tratamiento. Actualmente el inicio en edades más tempranas parece ser una forma de evitar y en algunos casos revertir algunos de los signos y síntomas de la enfermedad de Fabry.

Fabry Disease is a lysosomal disorder due to the absence or deficiency of the Alpha galactosidase A enzyme that causes a pathological ac cumulation of glycosphingolipids mainly in the REVISIÓN endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and podocytes among others. Enzyme replacement therapy is the only option for a specific treatment at present. Increasing knowledge of the physiopathological mechanisms has changed the management of the disease and above all, when treatment should begin. At present, beginning treatment at an early age seems to be a way of preventing and in some cases reverting some of the signs and symptoms of Fabry disease.