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Fabry nephropathy in a female with superposed IgA glomerulonephritis] G Ital Nefrol. 2005 Jul-Aug;22(4):. Italian. PMID: [
[Fabry nephropathy in a female with superposed IgA glomerulonephritis].
BACKGROUND:
In Anderson-Fabry disease (AFd), the kidney is affected in all hemizygous males and in some heterozygous females. Female carriers can present subtle renal abnormalities due to glycosphingolipid (GSL) accumulation within renal cells. Renal biopsy is rarely performed in female Fabry patients because clinical renal manifestations are usually lacking. However, female carriers can accumulate GSL in their renal cells despite the absence of clinically evident kidney disease.
CASE REPORT:
We performed a kidney biopsy in a 52-year-old female patient, a Fabry disease carrier. The patient showed normal glomerular filtration rate, persistent microhematuria and proteinuria (about 1.7 g/24 hr), cornea "verticillata", and evident left ventricular hypertrophy. The molecular study documented a missense mutation R227Q in exon 5 of the alpha-galactosidase A gene. Optical microscopy showed electron-dense mesangial deposits due IgA glomerulonephritis, as confirmed by immunofluorescence. We decided to start therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I). After 8 months of treatment, the patient demonstrated proteinuria of 0.9 g/24 hr. To decide when to start treatment using enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with human recombinant GAL A (Fabrazyme), we decided to perform an electron microscopy study of the renal biopsy. The renal ultrastructural findings were typical GSL inclusions in all kinds of glomerular cells, in tubular epithelial cells and in endothelial cells of interstitial capillaries, confirming the hypothesis of Fabry nephropathy. Consequently, Fabrazyme was given at a standard dose of 1 mg/kg every 2 weeks. After 24 months of combined treatment (ACE-I-Fabrazyme), proteinuria decreased to 0.2 g/24 hr.
CONCLUSIONS:
The importance of performing the ultrastructural examination of the kidney biopsy is stressed, especially in heterozygous Fabry patients to evaluate the need to treat them with ERT and to evaluate the degree of renal involvement
Upper airway obstructive disease in mucopolysaccharidoses: polysomnography, computed tomography and nasal endoscopy findings.
In mucopolysaccharidoses, upper airway obstruction has multiple causative factors and progressive respiratory disease may severely affect morbidity and mortality. In a cross-sectional study over 2 years we evaluated upper airway obstructive disease through overnight polysomnography, upper airway computed tomography and nasal endoscopy in 5 children and 6 adults with mucopolysaccharidoses of various types. Measurements of apnoea and apnoea-hypopnoea index, arousal index, and sleep efficiency were obtained through polysomnography. Retropalatal and retroglossal spaces were calculated through computed tomography, and the degree of adenoid hypertrophy was assessed through endoscopy. Apnoea index and apnoea-hypopnoea index were significantly higher in children than in adults with mucopolysaccharidoses (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively). Compared to healthy controls, retropalatal and retroglossal spaces were significantly smaller in children (p = 0.03 and p = 0.004, respectively) or adults with mucopolysaccharidoses (p = 0.004 and p = 0.004, respectively). All subjects had adenoid hypertrophy causing first-degree (36%) or second-degree (64%) obstruction at endoscopy. Overnight polysomnography, upper airway computed tomography and nasal endoscopy are useful tools for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in mucopolysaccharidoses, and identifying the site and severity of airway obstruction
Enzyme replacement therapy in Fabry disease patients undergoing dialysis: effects on quality of life and organ involvement. Am J Kidney Dis. 2005 Jul;46(1):120-7.
Upper airway obstructive disease in mucopolysaccharidoses: polysomnography, computed tomography and nasal endoscopy findings.
In mucopolysaccharidoses, upper airway obstruction has multiple causative factors and progressive respiratory disease may severely affect morbidity and mortality. In a cross-sectional study over 2 years we evaluated upper airway obstructive disease through overnight polysomnography, upper airway computed tomography and nasal endoscopy in 5 children and 6 adults with mucopolysaccharidoses of various types. Measurements of apnoea and apnoea-hypopnoea index, arousal index, and sleep efficiency were obtained through polysomnography. Retropalatal and retroglossal spaces were calculated through computed tomography, and the degree of adenoid hypertrophy was assessed through endoscopy. Apnoea index and apnoea-hypopnoea index were significantly higher in children than in adults with mucopolysaccharidoses (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively). Compared to healthy controls, retropalatal and retroglossal spaces were significantly smaller in children (p = 0.03 and p = 0.004, respectively) or adults with mucopolysaccharidoses (p = 0.004 and p = 0.004, respectively). All subjects had adenoid hypertrophy causing first-degree (36%) or second-degree (64%) obstruction at endoscopy. Overnight polysomnography, upper airway computed tomography and nasal endoscopy are useful tools for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in mucopolysaccharidoses, and identifying the site and severity of airway obstruction
Enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase beta improves cardiac involvement in Fabry's disease. Clin Genet. 2004
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