Find out more about Diagnostic Kits.
Find out more about Screening populations.
Find out more about the Fabry disease symptoms checklist.
Fabry disease is challenging to diagnose; partly because the multisystemic signs and symptoms associated with the condition overlap with those from a number of other diseases;1,2 and also because of the variability in disease progression. Fabry disease is a rare condition; therefore, it is not automatically considered by physicians when patients present with non-specific multisystemic symptoms.1,2
Misdiagnosis is common; 25% of patients in the Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS) were initially misdiagnosed.1 The mean length of time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis is 13.7 years for males and 16.3 years for females.1 The longer delay in the diagnosis of females has been attributed to inconsistent markers of disease, genetic variation, slower disease progression and misconceptions surrounding disease prevalence.1–4
Few of the signs and symptoms of Fabry disease are specific to the condition. However, some signs and symptoms are highly suggestive of Fabry disease and should always be investigated further, especially where more than one of them is present.
Conduction abnormalities, arrhythmia, left ventricular hypertrophy, ischaemia
Cysts, albuminuria, proteinuria, progressive renal failure
Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea
Angiokeratomas
Transient ischaemic attacks, stroke, neuropsychiatric problems, fatigue
Acroparesthesia, hypohidrosis, temperature sensitivity
Cornea verticillata, tortuous retinal blood vessels
Hearing impairment, vertigo, tinnitus
LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; RV, right ventricle
The gold standard procedures for the diagnosis of Fabry disease in the laboratory are measurement of α-Gal A activity in the leucocytes of a patient and molecular analysis of the GLA gene (see figure below). Progressive accumulation of Gb3 in tissues has historically been regarded as a major feature of Fabry disease;1 therefore, chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and mass spectrometry have been used to measure Gb3 in plasma and urine.2 It has, however, been questioned whether or not the accumulation of Gb3 is exclusively responsible for the clinical symptoms of Fabry disease. The reliability of Gb3 as a biomarker of Fabry disease is therefore questionable.1,3,4
Early diagnosis of Fabry disease is essential so that specific treatment and symptomatic management can be initiated, with the aim of limiting potentially irreversible organ damage.1,2 Prompt diagnosis may also benefit relatives of the patient in whom the disease is yet to be diagnosed; as many as five additional cases of Fabry disease may be identified within a family through pedigree analysis.3
Diagnosis involves many different tests, performed by a multidisciplinary team with a wide range of clinical specialties.1 In males, diagnosis is made by testing α-Gal A activity and is confirmed by genetic tests; in females, diagnosis must be based on genetic tests because α-Gal A activity may be within the normal range.4,5
Delay in the diagnosis and treatment of Fabry disease may have substantial clinical consequences for both male and female patients including irreversible organ damage, vital organ dysfunction, and early mortality.1 If left untreated, Fabry disease can reduce life expectancy by approximately 20 years in men and 15 years in women.6–8
Improving diagnosis
Misdiagnoses are common in Fabry disease.1 In an analysis of patients with Fabry disease, 25% were initially misdiagnosed, with a mean time of over 13 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis.2 The clinical course of the disease is highly variable resulting in a broad range of possible differential diagnoses.1 Common misdiagnoses of Fabry disease include rheumatological diseases and rheumatic fever, arthritis, neuropsychological disease, and multiple sclerosis.2 Fabry disease should be included in the list of differential diagnoses for unclear pathologies and those taking an atypical course.1