Fabry Disease: A Turkish Case with a Novel Mutation and Dermatological Manifestations
Abstract
Fabry disease is a rare, X-linked disease, caused by the deficiency of lysosomal α-galactosidase. Clinical fetaures are; acroparesthesia, unexplained fever, hypohidrosis and angiokeratomas. Untreated cases die early from cardiac complications, renal insuffiency or stroke. Currently there is no cure for Fabry disease, enzyme replacement therapy is the only choice in this progressive disease. A 9-year-old boy admitted to the Dermatology Clinic with reddish papular skin lesions, joint pain and anhydrosis. Hystological examination of the skin biopsy revealed angiokeratoma. There was no renal dysfunction or proteinuria. Biochemical confirmation of Fabry disease was made by determining the deficient leukocyte α-galactosidase activity. Subsequently, the patient’s molecular analysis was identified a novel nonsense mutation c. 785G>T in the GLA gene. Enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase beta was started. He is on enzyme replacement therapy for 8 years, significant improvement was obtained in severity and frequency of pain crisis and fatigue. We report this case to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis of Fabry disease restricted to dermatological findings, especially before renal and cardiac involvement occurs, while enzyme replacement therapy is now available. Also this patient is one of the first Fabry patients under enzyme replacement therapy in Turkey.
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