Unexpected Fabry disease in a renal allograft kidney: an underrecognized cause of poor allograft function

Fabry disease is an X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of α-galactosidase A, with characteristic ultrastructural cytoplasmic myelin-like inclusions. Renal lesions are seen in male and variably in heterozygous female patients. One previous report has described Fabry disease involving a renal allograft from a deceased female donor with no history of Fabry disease. The authors describe another case, in which suspicion for Fabry disease was raised ultrastructurally. This serves as a reminder that proteinuria after renal transplantation may be due to donor-derived disease. Fabry disease is probably an underrecognized cause of graft dysfunction. This case provides further justification for ultrastructural examination of renal allograft biopsies.