Linda van der Tol1, Einar Svarstad2, Alberto Ortiz3, Camilla Tøndel4, João Paulo Oliveira5, Liffert Vogt6, Stephen Waldek7, Derralynn A Hughes8, Robin H Lachmann9, Wim Terryn10, Carla E Hollak1, Sandrine Florquin11, Marius A van den Bergh Weerman11, Christoph Wanner12, Michael L West13, Marieke Biegstraaten1, Gabor E Linthorst14. 1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Lysosome Center 'Sphinx', Amsterdam, Netherlands. 2. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 3. Unidad de Dialisis, IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz/UAM, IRSIN, Madrid, Spain. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 5. Medical Genetics, Hospital São João, Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 6. Department of Nephrology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 7. Manchester, UK. 8. Department of Haematology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, & University College London, UK. 9. Charles Dent Metabolic Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK. 10. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. 11. Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 12. Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. 13. Department of Nephrology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. 14. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Lysosome Center 'Sphinx', Amsterdam, Netherlands. Electronic address: g.e.linthorst@amc.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Screening for Fabry disease (FD), an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, reveals a significant number of individuals with a genetic variant of unknown significance without classical FD manifestations; these variants in the α-galactosidase A gene often result in a high residual leukocyte α-galactosidase A and it is unclear whether these individuals suffer from FD. Therefore, a structured diagnostic approach is warranted. We present a diagnostic algorithm on how to approach adults with chronic kidney disease and an uncertain diagnosis of FD nephropathy. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASUREMENTS: A modified Delphi procedure was conducted to reach consensus among 11 FD experts. A systematic review was performed to identify possible criteria that could confirm or exclude FD nephropathy. RESULTS: The gold standard for FD nephropathy was defined as characteristic storage on electron microscopy (EM) in a kidney biopsy in the absence of medication that may induce similar storage. The suggested criteria to confirm FD nephropathy are as follows: 'renal cysts', 'Maltese cross sign', 'immunohistochemical staining of Gb3 in urine' and 'high urinary Gb3'; and to exclude FD nephropathy: 'absence of renal cysts', 'small kidneys' and 'high protein excretion' were rejected because of low or uncertain specificity. Urinary Gb3 may be increased in other kidney diseases and there was no agreement on this criterion, although a third of the panel indicated that it is sufficient to diagnose FD nephropathy. The 'Maltese cross sign' and 'high urinary Gb3' were selected as red flags to suggest the possibility of FD nephropathy, but are not sufficient for a definite diagnosis of FD nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with chronic kidney disease, an α-galactosidase A gene variant and an uncertain diagnosis of FD, a kidney biopsy with EM analysis should be performed to confirm or reject the diagnosis of FD nephropathy. Other criteria currently cannot substitute for a biopsy in these cases.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Screening for Fabry disease (FD), an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, reveals a significant number of individuals with a genetic variant of unknown significance without classical FD manifestations; these variants in the α-galactosidase A gene often result in a high residual leukocyte α-galactosidase A and it is unclear whether these individuals suffer from FD. Therefore, a structured diagnostic approach is warranted. We present a diagnostic algorithm on how to approach adults with chronic kidney disease and an uncertain diagnosis of FD nephropathy. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASUREMENTS: A modified Delphi procedure was conducted to reach consensus among 11 FD experts. A systematic review was performed to identify possible criteria that could confirm or exclude FD nephropathy. RESULTS: The gold standard for FD nephropathy was defined as characteristic storage on electron microscopy (EM) in a kidney biopsy in the absence of medication that may induce similar storage. The suggested criteria to confirm FD nephropathy are as follows: 'renal cysts', 'Maltese cross sign', 'immunohistochemical staining of Gb3 in urine' and 'high urinary Gb3'; and to exclude FD nephropathy: 'absence of renal cysts', 'small kidneys' and 'high protein excretion' were rejected because of low or uncertain specificity. Urinary Gb3 may be increased in other kidney diseases and there was no agreement on this criterion, although a third of the panel indicated that it is sufficient to diagnose FD nephropathy. The 'Maltese cross sign' and 'high urinary Gb3' were selected as red flags to suggest the possibility of FD nephropathy, but are not sufficient for a definite diagnosis of FD nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with chronic kidney disease, an α-galactosidase A gene variant and an uncertain diagnosis of FD, a kidney biopsy with EM analysis should be performed to confirm or reject the diagnosis of FD nephropathy. Other criteria currently cannot substitute for a biopsy in these cases.
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