[Effect of renin-angiotensin system in Fabry disease associated proteinuria]

To describe the prevalence of renal involvement in Fabry disease patients and determine the role of ACE inhibitors in its treatment.

We studied a family of eight members, diagnosed of Fabry disease after demonstrating alpha-galactosidase deficiency and genetic mutation. Serial biochemical analyses were performed every six months during the three years of follow-up: creatinine, urea, creatinine clearance, proteinuria, microalbuminuria, urinary sediment, blood pressure and glycemia. If urinary alterations were detected, ACE inhibitors were started. At the end of the study, a simple and Doppler ultrasonography was performed.

Six of eight patients presented microalbuminuria during the follow-up. Only one of these patients did not develop proteinuria. ACE inhibitors therapy decreased proteinuria in all six patients, however, this decrease was not complete in two of them: in one proteinuria was detected and in the other microalbuminuria persisted. Kidney involvement was not dependent on enzymatic substitution therapy. Renal ultrasonography was normal in patients without biochemical sign of renal affection. In one patient with proteinuria at the moment of the ultrasonography, slightly increased resistance indexes were detected.

Renal involvement is very frequent in patients with Fabry disease (in six of eight in our series). ACE inhibitors are effective in controlling proteinuria in patients with microalbuminuria y proteinuria. These data must be confirmed in larger series. Doppler ultrasonography fails in early renal involvement detection, but as it constitutes an easy and not dangerous technique, it should be done routinely in Fabry patients in order to evaluate its role in the follow-up of these patients.