Evaluation of patients with Fabry disease in Argentina

Fabry disease is an X- linked lysosomal disorder due to deficient activity of the enzyme alpha galactosidase A which leads to multisystemic storage of globotriaosylceramide with neurologic, gastrointestinal, cardiac, renal, skin and ophtalmological involvement. Recent studies indicate that heterozygous females develop symptoms similar to the males, but comparative information regarding the relative frequency of clinical manifestations, age of onset and severity of the disorder between males and females with Fabry disease is not available in Argentina. We identified 59 symptomatic adult patients with Fabry disease: 32 males (mean age 34.8 years) and 27 females (mean age 46.6 years). Diagnosis was made by enzymatic analysis in males and by genetic studies in females. We compared the frequency and severity of the clinical manifestations in females and males with this disease. The most frequent manifestations were: acroparesthesias, angiokeratomas, hypohydrosis (all them were significantly more frequent in males than in females, as well as the severity of symptoms), and cornea verticillata. Proteinuria and ventricular hypertrophy were frequent findings both in males and females. There was a delayed latency between age at onset and age at diagnosis in our group: 14 years for men and 30 years for females. Fabry disease is an underdiagnosed and potentially fatal disorder that affects both sexes. The availability of enzyme replacement therapy should stimulate the identification of signs and symptoms suggestive of this disorder, to allow earlier diagnosis and treatment.