The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges of Fabry Nephropathy—A Review of the Literature, Illustrated by a Clinical Case

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.

Heterozygous carriers of galactocerebrosidase mutations that cause Krabbe disease have impaired microglial function and defective repair of myelin damage

This review addresses two puzzling findings related to mutations in galactocerebrosidase （GALC） that cause Krabbe disease （KD）, a severe lysosomal storage disorder characterized by extensive myelin damage in children with mutations in both GALC alleles. First, heterozygous carriers of KD-causing mutations, which include the biological parents of children with KD, exhibit increased risk for developing other diseases. Second, variants in the GALC locus increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis （MS）, another disease characterized by extensive myelin damage. What explains these correlations？ In studies on cuprizone-induced myelin damage in heterozygous （GALC＋/–） mice carrying one copy of a mutation that causes KD-like disease, the extent of damage was similar in GALC＋/– and wild-type （WT） mice. In contrast, GALC＋/- mice had striking defects in repair of cuprizone-induced damage. We further found unexpected microglial defects in myelin debris clearance and in the ability to up-regulate the Trem2 microglial protein critical for debris uptake. These defects were rescued by exposure to a lysosomal re-acidifying drug discovered in our studies on KD, and which provides multiple clinically relevant benefits in the twitcher （GALC＋/–） mouse model of KD. Thus, heterozygous GALC mutations cause effects on biological function that may help to understand the increased disease risk in heterozygous carriers of such mutations and to understand why GALC variations increase the risk of MS. Our findings indicate that while some genetic risk factors may contribute to complex diseases by increasing the risk of tissue damage, others may do so by compromising tissue repair.

A Child Presenting with Mucopolysaccharidosis

The lysosomal storage disorders are a group of diseases that are typified by an accumulation of waste products in the lysosomes. Mucopolysaccharidoses are lysosomal storage disorders due to diverse lysosomal enzyme deficiencies. Ms HT was 2 years and 5 months old when she presented to our metabolic bone clinic with clinical features that were suggestive of a genetic syndrome that was associated with a metabolic bone disease. The urine GAG spot test was positive. The MPS screen identified a reduction in arylsulfatase B activity and sequencing of the ARSB gene detected a pathogenic variant, in keeping with Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome. The diagnosis of MPS is confirmed by urine GAG, enzyme activity analysis and genetic testing. The available treatments include hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, enzyme replacement therapy and surgery. MPSs are heterogeneous, progressive, multisystem diseases for which diagnosis is often delayed. Greater awareness of MPS will enable early diagnosis and treatment. Treatment is however costly and is frequently unavailable to patients in the public sector.