Effect of genetic modifiers on cerebral lesions in Fabry disease.

Fabry disease is associated with increased risk of premature stroke and presumptive ischemic cerebral lesions. In 57 consecutive patients, 35% of whom had lesions on brain MRI, the authors found that genotypes of polymorphisms G-174C of interleukin-6, G894T of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, factor V G1691A mutation, and the A-13G and G79A of protein Z were all significantly associated with cerebral lesions. These findings suggest that these proteins modulate Fabry cerebral vasculopathy.