INTRODUCTION: Fabry disease (FD) may present with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), renal insufficiency or stroke. Several studies investigated FD prevalence in populations expressing these symptoms. A systematic review was conducted to calculate the overall prevalence of FD in these cohorts. METHODS: Online databases were searched for studies on screening for FD. Study population selection, screening methods and outcome of screening were recorded. RESULTS: 20 studies were identified, 10 of which included both male and female patients. In all (n=19) studies with male and almost all (n=10) with female patients, alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A) activity was used as the screening method. In men on dialysis (10 studies), overall FD prevalence was 0.33% (95% CI 0.20% to 0.47%) and in women (6 studies) 0.10% (95% CI 0% to 0.19%). Combined prevalence of FD in patients with renal transplant was 0.38% in men (95% CI 0.07% to 0.69%) and 0% in women. In patients with LVH, selection of study population and differences in the method of screening hampered the calculation of an overall prevalence (ranging from 0.9% to 3.9% in men and 1.1% to 11.8% in women). In premature strokes (n=2 studies), overall FD prevalence was 4.2% (95% CI 2.4% to 6.0%) in men and 2.1% (95% CI 0.5% to 3.7%) in women. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of FD in dialysis patients is 0.33% for men and 0.10% for women. The prevalence of FD in LVH is at least 1% for both genders. In women, most studies were performed with alpha-Gal A activity measurements as the screening tool, although this method fails to detect one third of female patients with FD, underestimating the overall prevalence in women.
INTRODUCTION:Fabry disease (FD) may present with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), renal insufficiency or stroke. Several studies investigated FD prevalence in populations expressing these symptoms. A systematic review was conducted to calculate the overall prevalence of FD in these cohorts. METHODS: Online databases were searched for studies on screening for FD. Study population selection, screening methods and outcome of screening were recorded. RESULTS: 20 studies were identified, 10 of which included both male and female patients. In all (n=19) studies with male and almost all (n=10) with female patients, alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A) activity was used as the screening method. In men on dialysis (10 studies), overall FD prevalence was 0.33% (95% CI 0.20% to 0.47%) and in women (6 studies) 0.10% (95% CI 0% to 0.19%). Combined prevalence of FD in patients with renal transplant was 0.38% in men (95% CI 0.07% to 0.69%) and 0% in women. In patients with LVH, selection of study population and differences in the method of screening hampered the calculation of an overall prevalence (ranging from 0.9% to 3.9% in men and 1.1% to 11.8% in women). In premature strokes (n=2 studies), overall FD prevalence was 4.2% (95% CI 2.4% to 6.0%) in men and 2.1% (95% CI 0.5% to 3.7%) in women. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of FD in dialysis patients is 0.33% for men and 0.10% for women. The prevalence of FD in LVH is at least 1% for both genders. In women, most studies were performed with alpha-Gal A activity measurements as the screening tool, although this method fails to detect one third of female patients with FD, underestimating the overall prevalence in women.
Authors: Markus Niemann; Arndt Rolfs; Anne Giese; Hermann Mascher; Frank Breunig; Georg Ertl; Christoph Wanner; Frank Weidemann Journal: JIMD Rep Date: 2012-07-01
Authors: Laura Fancellu; Walter Borsini; Ilaria Romani; Angelo Pirisi; Giovanni Andrea Deiana; Elia Sechi; Pietro Emiliano Doneddu; Anna Laura Rassu; Rita Demurtas; Anna Scarabotto; Pamela Cassini; Eloisa Arbustini; GianPietro Sechi Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2015-12-12 Impact factor: 2.474