Fabry disease

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A, required for the degradation of globotriaosylceramide. Accumulation of substrate occurs in multiple cell types resulting in a multi-system disorder, affecting both males and females. Clinical features include neuropathic pain and angiokeratoma, with subsequent development of proteinuria, renal failure, left ventricular hypertrophy, arrhythmias and stroke. Beyond palliative therapies for organ involvement and pain control, enzyme replacement therapy directed at the underlying metabolic defect became available in 2001-2003. Knowledge of the pathophysiology and clinical features of FD is vital for assessing the rationale and evidence of efficacy of therapies for FD and their limitations. Whilst ERT improves many of the symptoms of FD, its effect on the natural history of the disorder has yet to be fully demonstrated. Improved understanding of the appropriate use of adjunctive therapies and the development of new treatment strategies, including pharmacologic chaperone therapy and gene therapy, coupled with long term clinical outcome data on the effects of ERT are all key components of optimising treatment for FD.