[Electron microscopic observations in internal organs in morbus Fabry (author's transl)]

Electron microscopic findings are reported on the localization and fine structure of glycolipid inclusions in different organs (heart, kidney, lymph nodes, arterial blood vessels, pancreas) in Fabry's disease in a female. The intracellular and extracellular inclusions were made up of multilamellar membraneous systems in concentric, excentric, and parallel arrangement. This fine structure is characteristic of liquid-crystalline phases of phospholipid-water systems. The same type of inclusions are found in the internal organs of heterozygotic women as in homozygotic men. The relationship between the glycolipid inclusions and the lysosomes is discussed.