A Review of Fabry Disease
- Skin Therapy Lett. 2018 Mar;23(2):4-6.
- 1. McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- 2. Baywood Dermatology, Ajax, ON, Canada; CCA Medical Research, Ajax, ON, Canada; St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Probity Medical Research, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disease. A lack of alpha-galactosidase activity results in the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in cells of various systems, leading to multi-systemic effects. The cutaneous hallmark of FD is a specific distribution of angiokeratoma. Other common symptoms include cornea verticillata, acroparesthesia, and sweating abnormalities. FD-specific symptoms, history, as well as examination of angiokeratoma can assist in the differential diagnosis. Enzyme replacement therapy is the current mainstay of treatment.