Fabry Disease (FD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder characterized by α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) enzyme deficiency, resulting in glycosphingolipid accumulation. Its clinical spectrum ranges from severe classical...Fabry Disease (FD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder characterized by α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) enzyme deficiency, resulting in glycosphingolipid accumulation. Its clinical spectrum ranges from severe classical to milder nonclassical or late-onset phenotypes. Renal involvement, termed Fabry Nephropathy (FN), can vary from mild proteinuria to kidney failure. FN diagnosis, especially in nonclassical cases with a genetic Variant of Unknown Significance (VUS) in the GLA gene, poses challenges. Measurement of plasma lyso-Gb3 levels is gaining importance in FN diagnosis, while renal biopsy with electron microscopy remains the gold standard in equivocal cases. Treatment options include Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) and chaperone therapy, demanding careful candidate selection due to high treatment costs. Research has predominantly focused on classical FD, revealing modest treatment benefits. However, evidence for treating patients, especially females, with milder nonclassical or late-onset phenotypes is scarce, emphasizing the necessity for placebo-controlled clinical trials in these subgroups. Meanwhile, participation in global FD registries can improve our understanding of disease management. Case Presentation: A woman in her late sixties presented with moderate chronic kidney disease, mild proteinuria, and microscopic hematuria. Her family history included a prevalence of renal, cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases. Kidney biopsy revealed characteristic myelin figures and zebra bodies in podocytes, strongly suggestive of FN. Genetic analysis identified a VUS in the GLA gene (c.655A > C, p.Ile219Leu), introducing diagnostic uncertainty. Further investigations revealed severe cardiac involvement. Considering the recurring difficulty presented by the finding of a VUS in the GLA gene during FN assessments, along with the uncertainty regarding the need for treatment in nonclassical or late-onset FD phenotypes, especially in women, this case becomes a central focus for a thorough review of the literature. This review aims to propose a practical algorithm that integrates clinical, biochemical, and genetic markers for FN screening and diagnosis. Additionally, it explores treatment benefits in nonclassical or late-onset FD phenotypes, with a focus on female patients.展开更多
Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a rare tumor type containing unequivocal elements of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma that are intimately mixed. Although these ...Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a rare tumor type containing unequivocal elements of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma that are intimately mixed. Although these tumors are usually considered to be more related to hepatocellular carcinoma than to cholangiocarcinoma, they sometimes, in contrast to hepatocellular carcinoma, contain a significant amount of fibrous stroma. This might in some cases explain atypical radiological features. We report a case of a cHCC-CC in a 47-year-old female that resembled focal nodular hyperplasia on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Correlation of imaging and serum levels of α-fetoprotein and CA19.9 can help to make the correct diagnosis preoperatively.展开更多
文摘Fabry Disease (FD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder characterized by α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) enzyme deficiency, resulting in glycosphingolipid accumulation. Its clinical spectrum ranges from severe classical to milder nonclassical or late-onset phenotypes. Renal involvement, termed Fabry Nephropathy (FN), can vary from mild proteinuria to kidney failure. FN diagnosis, especially in nonclassical cases with a genetic Variant of Unknown Significance (VUS) in the GLA gene, poses challenges. Measurement of plasma lyso-Gb3 levels is gaining importance in FN diagnosis, while renal biopsy with electron microscopy remains the gold standard in equivocal cases. Treatment options include Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) and chaperone therapy, demanding careful candidate selection due to high treatment costs. Research has predominantly focused on classical FD, revealing modest treatment benefits. However, evidence for treating patients, especially females, with milder nonclassical or late-onset phenotypes is scarce, emphasizing the necessity for placebo-controlled clinical trials in these subgroups. Meanwhile, participation in global FD registries can improve our understanding of disease management. Case Presentation: A woman in her late sixties presented with moderate chronic kidney disease, mild proteinuria, and microscopic hematuria. Her family history included a prevalence of renal, cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases. Kidney biopsy revealed characteristic myelin figures and zebra bodies in podocytes, strongly suggestive of FN. Genetic analysis identified a VUS in the GLA gene (c.655A > C, p.Ile219Leu), introducing diagnostic uncertainty. Further investigations revealed severe cardiac involvement. Considering the recurring difficulty presented by the finding of a VUS in the GLA gene during FN assessments, along with the uncertainty regarding the need for treatment in nonclassical or late-onset FD phenotypes, especially in women, this case becomes a central focus for a thorough review of the literature. This review aims to propose a practical algorithm that integrates clinical, biochemical, and genetic markers for FN screening and diagnosis. Additionally, it explores treatment benefits in nonclassical or late-onset FD phenotypes, with a focus on female patients.
文摘Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a rare tumor type containing unequivocal elements of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma that are intimately mixed. Although these tumors are usually considered to be more related to hepatocellular carcinoma than to cholangiocarcinoma, they sometimes, in contrast to hepatocellular carcinoma, contain a significant amount of fibrous stroma. This might in some cases explain atypical radiological features. We report a case of a cHCC-CC in a 47-year-old female that resembled focal nodular hyperplasia on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Correlation of imaging and serum levels of α-fetoprotein and CA19.9 can help to make the correct diagnosis preoperatively.
