Actionability Assertions

Gene Condition (MONDO ID) OMIM ID Final Assertion
GLA Fabry disease (0010526) 301500 Moderate Actionability

Actionability Assertion Rationale

  • Male assertion: All experts agreed with the assertion computed according to the rubric. Female assertion: The group consensus was for a moderate assertion, even though there were concerns that evidence regarding effectiveness and severity in females could have been affected by the fact that they were secondarily ascertained.

Actionability Scores

Outcome / Intervention Pair Severity Likelihood Effectiveness Nature of Intervention Total Score
Cardiovascular disease (males) / Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alpha or beta 2 3C 1D 2 8CD
Cardiovascular disease (females) / Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alpha or beta 2 2C 1D 2 7CD
Cerebrovascular events (males) / Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alpha or beta 2 2C 1D 2 7CD
Cerebrovascular events (females) / Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alpha or beta 2 2C 1D 2 7CD
End-stage renal disease (males) / Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alpha or beta 2 2C 1D 2 7CD
End-stage renal disease (females) / Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alpha or beta 2 1C 1D 2 6CD
View scoring key
Domain of Actionability Scoring Metric State of the Knowledgebase
Severity: What is the nature of the threat to health to an individual? 3 = Sudden death as a reasonably possible outcome
2 = Reasonable possibility of death or major morbidity
1 = Modest morbidity
0 = Minimal or no morbidity
N/A
Likelihood: What is the chance that the outcome will occur? 3 = >40% chance
2 = 5%-39% chance
1 = 1%-4% chance
0 = <1% chance
A = Substantial evidence or evidence from a high tier (tier 1)
B = Moderate evidence or evidence from a moderate tier (tier 2)
C = Minimal evidence or evidence from a lower tier (tier 3 or 4)
D = Poor evidence or evidence not provided in the report
N = Evidence based on expert contributions (tier 5)
Effectiveness: What is the effectiveness of a specific intervention in preventing or diminishing the risk of harm? 3 = Highly effective
2 = Moderately effective
1 = Minimally effective
0 = Controversial or unknown effectiveness
IN = Ineffective/No interventiona
A = Substantial evidence or evidence from a high tier (tier 1)
B = Moderate evidence or evidence from a moderate tier (tier 2)
C = Minimal evidence or evidence from a lower tier (tier 3 or 4)
D = Poor evidence or evidence not provided in the report
N = Evidence based on expert contributions (tier 5)
Nature of intervention: How risky, medically burdensome, or intensive is the intervention? 3 = Low risk, or medically acceptable and low intensity
2 = Moderate risk, moderately acceptable or intensive
1 = Greater risk, less acceptable and substantial intensity
0 = High risk, poorly acceptable or intensive
N/A
a Do not score the remaining categories

Prevalence of the Genetic Condition

The incidence of Fabry disease (FD) has historically been estimated as 1:22,570 to 1:117,000 male births; however, more recent studies suggest the incidence may be as high as 1:1,250 to 1:3,100. This likely reflects a broader phenotypic spectrum identified in the last decade with a ratio of 11:1 of persons with the later-onset:classic phenotypes.
View Citations

El Dib R, et al. (2016) PMID: 27454104, A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, Bolsover FE, et al. (2014) PMID: 23949010, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755, Wang RY, et al. (2011) PMID: 21502868, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, van der Tol L, et al. (2014) PMID: 23922385, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533

Clinical Features (Signs / symptoms)

FD encompasses a spectrum of phenotypes resulting from deficient activity of the enzyme α-galactosidase (α-Gal A) and progressive lysosomal deposition of enzyme substrates in cells throughout the body. The classic form occurs in males with less than 1% α-Gal A enzyme activity with periodic crises of severe pain in the extremities, appearance of vascular cutaneous lesions, sweating abnormalities, microalbuminuria, proteinuria, and corneal and lenticular opacities. Disease progression can lead to cardiac and/or cerebrovascular disease. Progressive decline in renal function leads to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients may also have gastrointestinal, auditory, pulmonary, vascular, cranial nerve, and psychological manifestations. Cognitive function can be impaired. While general intellectual and global cognitive functioning appear unaffected, there is evidence for impairment in executive functioning, information processing speed, and attention. Psychological difficulties, in particular depression, are common in FD.

Heterozygous females typically have milder and more variable symptoms. In addition, males with a greater than 1% α-Gal A activity present later and may have either a cardiac variant phenotype, renal variant phenotype, or cerebrovascular disease presenting as stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Males and females with the cardiac variant present with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), mitral insufficiency, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia, with proteinuria but without ESRD. The renal variant phenotype is typically associated with ESRD without the skin or pain symptoms associated with classic FD.
View Citations

El Dib R, et al. (2016) PMID: 27454104, A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, Arends M, et al. (2015) PMID: 26076709, Biegstraaten M, et al. (2015) PMID: 25885911, Bolsover FE, et al. (2014) PMID: 23949010, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Laney DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 23860966, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755, Wang RY, et al. (2011) PMID: 21502868, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, van der Tol L, et al. (2014) PMID: 23922385, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Sheng S, et al. (2019) PMID: 30955952, Baig S, et al. (2018) PMID: 29045633, Wanner C, et al. (2018) PMID: 30017653

Natural History (Important subgroups & survival / recovery)

In classic FD, the first symptoms, including chronic neuropathic pain and episodic severe pain crises, emerge during childhood (typically age 3-10 years). Heterozygous females typically have a later median age of onset than males (9-13 years versus 13-23 years). Rarely, females may be relatively asymptomatic and have a normal life span or may have symptoms as severe as males with the classic phenotype. Patients with FD overall have a lower quality of life (QoL) compared to the general population. Mitral valve insufficiency and precursors of renal failure may present in childhood or adolescence. Cardiac and/or cerebrovascular disease is present in most males by middle age while ESRD usually develops during the third to fifth decade. Renal and cardiac failure represent major sources of morbidity, and account for the reduced lifespan among affected males (50-58 years) and females (70-75 years) compared to the normal population. The most common cause of death among both sexes is cardiovascular disease as a result of heart failure and arrhythmia, with a significant proportion categorized as sudden. Most patients dying of cardiovascular disease have previously received renal replacement therapy. Patients with late-onset atypical variants of the disease are generally asymptomatic most of their lives. Those with the cardiac variant generally present in the sixth to eighth decade of life; many are diagnosed as the result of having hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. For those with the renal variant, age at onset is typically after 25 years.
View Citations

El Dib R, et al. (2016) PMID: 27454104, A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, Arends M, et al. (2015) PMID: 26076709, Biegstraaten M, et al. (2015) PMID: 25885911, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755, Wang RY, et al. (2011) PMID: 21502868, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Baig S, et al. (2018) PMID: 29045633, Wanner C, et al. (2018) PMID: 30017653

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Mode of Inheritance

X-linked

Prevalence of Genetic Variants

1-2 in 5000
Based on 6 studies in newborn screening populations in Europe and Taiwan, the pooled prevalence of newborns with a variant in the GLA gene, which includes variants of undetermined significance, is about 0.04%.
Tier 1 View Citations

van der Tol L, et al. (2014) PMID: 23922385

Penetrance (Includes any high-risk racial or ethnic subgroups)

>= 40 %
Severe clinical manifestations have been reported in at least 43% of obligate carrier women.
Tier 3 View Citations

Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533

>= 40 %
A systematic review of 12 studies estimated that between 15-62.5% of patients have depression or some other psychopathology, with pain being the most common factor associated with depression.
Tier 1 View Citations

Bolsover FE, et al. (2014) PMID: 23949010

5-39 %
A systematic review of 13 studies (N=4185 FD patients; 50% male with an average age of 37.6 years and 1.2-10 years of follow-up) reported that death from any cause was 8.3%. Of these, 75% was due to cardiovascular problems, with the majority being sudden cardiac death (SCD) events (62% of reported deaths). Ventricular tachycardia has an average prevalence of 15.3%.
Tier 1 View Citations

Baig S, et al. (2018) PMID: 29045633

Unknown
The incidence of cardiac complications is similar in individuals with the atypical Fabry cardiac variant and individuals with classic FD.
Tier 3 View Citations

A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292

>= 40 %
The following baseline clinical manifestations were reported for individuals in the Fabry Registry and the Fabry Outcomes Study (FOS); however, a degree of ascertainment bias regarding disease severity is likely, particularly in female patients who may come to clinical attention due to the presence of symptoms:

Neurological symptoms

- Total (all ages): males: 67-84%, females: 47-79%

- Pain (all ages): males: 62-76%, females: 41-64%

- Chronic (not acute) pain (pediatric patients): males: 34-36%, females: 28-32%

- Acute pain crises (pediatric patients): males: 10-67 %, females: 6-59%

Renal symptoms

- Total (all ages): male: 17%, female: 11%

- Proteinuria: (all ages) males: 44%, females: 33%, (pediatric patients) males: 8%, females: 31%

- End-stage renal failure (all ages): males: 17% (10% with renal transplants, 7% on dialysis, females: 1%)

Cardiac symptoms

- Palpitations/arrhythmias, angina and exertional dyspnea (all ages): males: 22-69%, females: 23-65%

- Left ventricular hypertrophy (all ages): males: 46%, females: 28%

- Hypertension (adults only): males: 57%, females: 47%)

- Valvular dysfunction (pediatric patients): males: 6-23%, females: 14-24%

- Conduction abnormalities (pediatric patients): males: 8-10%, females: 4-7%

Cerebrovascular events (e.g., stroke, TIA) (all ages): males: 12-25%, females: 12-27%

Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain and diarrhea)

- All ages: males: 55%, females: 50%

- Pediatric patients: males: 23-44%, females: 11-52%

Heat/cold intolerance (pediatric patients)

- Heat (males: 39%, females: 38%)

- Cold (males: 17%, females: 17%)

Tier 3 View Citations

A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742

Relative Risk (Includes any high-risk racial or ethnic subgroups)

>3
An analysis of 2446 FD registry patients showed that stroke occurs in 6.9% of men and 4.3% of women, and that the incidence of stroke is markedly higher in FD patients than the general population, especially in men of 35–45 years’ age group whose relative risk of stroke is 12 times higher.
Tier 3 View Citations

Sheng S, et al. (2019) PMID: 30955952

Expressivity

Fabry disease encompasses a spectrum of phenotypes ranging from the severe classic phenotype to atypical forms that often lack many of the classical characteristics of the disease (e.g., skin lesion, sweating abnormalities).
Tier 3 View Citations

A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292

Substantial intrafamilial and interfamilial variability in age of disease onset and disease progression exists, even between males of the same family that have the same pathogenic variant.
Tier 3 View Citations

Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Biegstraaten M, et al. (2015) PMID: 25885911

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Patient Management

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has developed an ACT sheet to help clinical decision-making following newborn screening for Fabry disease: https://www.acmg.net/PDFLibrary/Fabry.pdf
Management of FD patients depends on the following:

- A personalized approach to care, reflecting the natural history of the specific disease phenotype and the individual’s clinical signs and symptoms

- Comprehensive baseline evaluation of disease involvement prior to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) initiation

- Timely ERT initiation

- Thorough routine monitoring for evidence of organ involvement in non-classic asymptomatic patients

- Use of appropriate adjuvant treatments for specific disease manifestations

- Management by an experienced multidisciplinary team.

Tier 2 View Citations

Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755, Wang RY, et al. (2011) PMID: 21502868, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Laney DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 23860966, Wanner C, et al. (2018) PMID: 30017653, Hopkin RJ, et al. (2016) PMID: 26546059

Adult and pediatric patients should undergo baseline evaluation that should include a complete physical and psychological exam (including QoL, and work/academic attendance and performance), measurement of overall glycolipid burden, and examination of the following systems: renal, cardiovascular, neurologic, ear/nose/throat, ophthalmologic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and skeletal.
Tier 2 View Citations

Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, Hopkin RJ, et al. (2016) PMID: 26546059

Baseline data and all follow up data should be transferred to a central registry.
Tier 2 View Citations

Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755

In practice, there is wide variability in the use of ERT even for hemizygous individuals, with some starting therapy at a young age even without symptoms and others waiting until end organ damage is evident. The decision to initiate ERT should be made according to the clinical judgment of the managing metabolic physician in conjunction with the family of the patient.
Tier 2 View Citations

Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Wang RY, et al. (2011) PMID: 21502868, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Biegstraaten M, et al. (2015) PMID: 25885911, Laney DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 23860966, Hopkin RJ, et al. (2016) PMID: 26546059

A systematic review of RCTs of ERT reported on nine studies of 351 FD patients; however, many of these studies reported only on the effect of ERT on levels of enzyme substrate. Data from 2 trials (n=39 males) found no statistically significant differences in plasma enzyme substrate and one trial (n=24 males) found no statistical differences in renal function between individuals treated with agalsidase alfa and placebo (up to 6-month follow-up). Similar results were seen for agalsidase beta. One trial of 26 male patients found a statistically significant difference in pain, favoring agalsidase alfa compared to placebo at 5-6 months after treatment. No trial reported on the effect of agalsidase alfa on mortality or cardiac/cerebrovascular disease. One trial of agalsidase beta (n=82 males and females) found no difference in mortality, renal function, or symptoms or complications of cardiac or cerebrovascular disease over 18 months. The long-term influence of ERT on risk of morbidity and mortality related to FD remains to be established.
Tier 1 View Citations

El Dib R, et al. (2016) PMID: 27454104

With ERT treatment, some patients have disease progression and elevated levels of plasma enzyme substrates, for reasons that are not clearly delineated. In addition, others develop antibodies to ERT over time, though the impact on clinical outcomes and disease progression is not understood. These results suggest long-term failure in some patients, but further study is needed.
Tier 2 View Citations

Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Wanner C, et al. (2018) PMID: 30017653

Currently, only algalsidase beta is approved for treatment of FD in the United States.
A meta-analysis of 7 cohort studies and 2 RCTs included 7513 participants with 1471 on ERT versus 6042 placebo controls, mean follow-up of 4 years, 52% male, and mean age of 41 years. Results showed that the stroke recurrence ratio in the ERT treatment group was 8.2% and 16% in the placebo group, favoring ERT treatment group over placebo (p = 0.03).
Tier 1 View Citations

Sheng S, et al. (2019) PMID: 30955952

A systematic review and analysis of pooled proportions included 77 cohort studies comprising 15,305 participants followed over a mean of 3.8 years; however, only data from 39 of these studies could be pooled. Within these cohorts 66% of participants were male and had a mean age of 35 years. For 66% of the cohorts, the phenotype (classic/non-classic) was not reported. Although the rate of all-cause mortality in the primary analysis was higher in the untreated patients (10.8%), followed by agalsidase alfa (9%), and agalsidase beta (4.4%), there was no significant difference between the groups. Compared with untreated patients, treatment with agalsidase beta resulted in statistically significantly lower proportion of patients with renal complications (6% versus 21%), cardiovascular complications (7% versus 26%), and cerebrovascular complications (3.5% versus 17.8%). The differences between agalsidase alpha and untreated patients were not significantly different.
Tier 1 View Citations

El Dib R, et al. (2017) PMID: 28296917

There is limited evidence for the impact of ERT on certain outcomes in FD. A systematic review of trials and observational studies was unable to draw any definitive conclusions about the effect of ERT on patient QoL.
Tier 1 View Citations

Arends M, et al. (2015) PMID: 26076709

Two prospective, randomized studies (97-100% male) using ERT to treat FD reported on cerebrovascular outcomes with short follow-up periods and found no reduction in stroke incidence, making the effectiveness of ERT in stroke prevention unknown.
Tier 2 View Citations

Meschia JF, et al. (2014) PMID: 25355838

Migalastat, an oral chaperone drug, is recommended as an option for treatment for some patients with FD who are over 16 years with an amenable genetic variant who would usually be offered ERT. For non-amenable genotypes, migalastat may result in a net loss of alpha-Gal A activity, potentially worsening the disease condition.
Tier 2 View Citations

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2017) URL: www.nice.org.uk.

A systematic review evaluated 2 phase III RCTs that both included males and females. One RCT randomized patients to switch from ERT to migalastat (n = 36) or continue with ERT (n = 24) during an 18-month period with a 12-month extension in which all patients received migalastat. During the treatment period, the percentage of patients who had a renal, cardiac, or cerebrovascular event or died was 29% of patients on migalastat compared to 44% of patients on ERT. However, this difference was not statistically significant. A second RCT compared migalastat (n=34) with placebo (n=33) over a 6-month period, with an 18-month extension study. The primary outcome was change from baseline in interstitial capillary inclusions of the enzyme substrate globotriaosylceramide (GL-3), which was not significantly different between groups. Results from both trials indicate that migalastat does not have a significant beneficial effect on pain, health-related quality of life outcomes, or glomerular filtration rate (results were uncertain due to large confidence intervals, small sample sizes, and/or short follow-up time). Migalastat did not influence left ventricular ejection fraction but did improve left ventricular mass over 18 months. In the extension studies from both trials, efficacy outcomes were similar to the main trials; no clear conclusions can be made regarding the long-term efficacy of migalastat in patients with FD due to the absence of comparator groups and the short duration of treatment.
Tier 1 View Citations

Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). (2018) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Due to an increased risk of vascular events, other vascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, increased weight) should be aggressively managed.
Tier 2 View Citations

Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776

In order to reduce stroke risk, aspirin may be offered starting at age 30 for males and age 35 for females.
Tier 2 View Citations

Wanner C, et al. (2018) PMID: 30017653

General anesthesia and regional anesthesia techniques might present potential problems for patients with FD due to organ and tissue involvement and physical features. Preoperative assessment needs to be thorough and organ dysfunction should be assessed carefully. Difficult airway management should be anticipated and extreme positioning for specific operations may be problematic. In patients with decreased renal function, doses of certain drugs that undergo renal clearance should be adapted.
Tier 4 View Citations

Gaik C., Wiesmann T.. (2019) URL: www.orphananesthesia.eu.

Surveillance

Adult and pediatric patients should undergo regular surveillance including complete physical and psychological exams (including QoL and work/academic attendance and performance), measurement of overall glycolipid burden, and surveillance of the following systems: kidney, cardiac, cardiovascular, neurologic, ear/nose/throat, ophthalmologic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and skeletal. Comprehensive evaluation of renal function of all patients should be made; however, some measures may have limited utility in children. Type and frequency of surveillance vary across systems and with individual patient symptoms.
Tier 2 View Citations

Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Laney DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 23860966, Hopkin RJ, et al. (2016) PMID: 26546059

The assessment of concomitant prothrombotic factors and the monitoring of changes in cerebral blood flow velocities with Doppler sonography are relevant to determine the increased risk of stroke for patients with FD.
Tier 2 View Citations

Wanner C, et al. (2018) PMID: 30017653

Adults and children should be monitored for vitamin D deficiency as it is common in patients with FD and is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, worse renal outcomes, and increased risk of osteoporosis. It is reasonable to monitor vitamin D levels in patients with Fabry nephropathy and to correct any observed nutritional vitamin D deficiency as part of routine management.
Tier 2 View Citations

Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Wanner C, et al. (2018) PMID: 30017653

Circumstances to Avoid

Due to the high risk of vascular events patients should be discouraged from smoking.
Tier 2 View Citations

Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742

Adult and pediatric patients should avoid pain triggers with lifestyle modifications: avoid temperature extremes, maintain proper hydration, avoid some types of strenuous activity (e.g., long distance running), and avoid overheating by using air conditioning, cooling vests, facial mist/spray, and rapid treatment of fever.
Tier 2 View Citations

A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Hopkin RJ, et al. (2016) PMID: 26546059

Antiarrhythmic treatment with amiodarone is not recommended because of a reported interference with ERT, though no clinical data is currently available to support this statement.
Tier 3 View Citations

Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, Wanner C, et al. (2018) PMID: 30017653

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Nature of Intervention

Patient management involves non-invasive, multiple organ system medical screening and potentially the use of ERT (infused bi-weekly). ERT infusions tend to be reasonably well tolerated, with reported infusion reactions of about 10%, mostly consisting of fever and transient rigors of mild to moderate intensity. Within a pooled analysis of registry data, the rates of reported adverse events was 31% for agalsidase alfa and 34% for agalsidase beta. However, these rates were not significantly different from those reported by placebo-infused patients (37%). Because most infusion-associated reactions to ERT tend occur in the first few months, patients should start infusions in a clinical setting with direct physician supervision (e.g. hospital, outpatient clinic familiar with ERT) where reactions can be managed appropriately. If patients tolerate hospital infusions for the first few months of treatment, then home infusions may be an option. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) for migalastat mostly consist of nasopharyngitis (18%) and headache (35%), which were significantly higher than the placebo group and similar to ERT-treated patients. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were less frequent in migalastat-treated patients compared to ERT-treated patients (19% versus 33%). The most commonly occurring SAEs reported for migalastat are chest pain and morbid obesity.
Context: Adult Pediatric
View Citations

El Dib R, et al. (2016) PMID: 27454104, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, Ortiz A, et al. (2018) PMID: 29530533, El Dib R, et al. (2017) PMID: 28296917

Chance to Escape Clinical Detection

Misdiagnosis in individuals with FD is common (up to 25%) with some patients having a delay of >50 years before the correct diagnosis, and a delay of >20 years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis being common. The diagnosis can be difficult, as patients commonly present with nonspecific complaints such as headaches, limb or abdominal pain plus diarrhea. Later disease manifestations are also nonspecific and common in other conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and atheromatosis, leading to FD being under-diagnosed. Delay in diagnosis in females arises partially from disease heterogeneity associated with an X-linked disease but also from the now-discredited assumption that females with pathogenic variants for FD are merely carriers. A definitive diagnosis is most commonly made following severe complications such as stroke, heart and kidney failure. Recent studies have found that 46% of FD patients experience their first stroke before being diagnosed. Atypical forms of FD with later onset may be more common than classic FD but are often underdiagnosed.
Context: Adult Pediatric
View Citations

A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755, Germain DP, et al. (2019) PMID: 30941742, Gaik C., Wiesmann T.. (2019) URL: www.orphananesthesia.eu., Mehta A, et al. (2004) PMID: 15025684

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.
Gene Condition Associations
OMIM Identifier Primary MONDO Identifier Additional MONDO Identifiers
GLA 301500 0010526

References List

A Mehta, DA Hughes. Fabry Disease. (2002) [Updated Oct 17 2013]. In: RA Pagon, MP Adam, HH Ardinger, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1292/

Arends M, Hollak CE, Biegstraaten M. (2015) Quality of life in patients with Fabry disease: a systematic review of the literature. Orphanet journal of rare diseases. 10(1750-1172):77.

Baig S, Edward NC, Kotecha D, Liu B, Nordin S, Kozor R, Moon JC, Geberhiwot T, Steeds RP. (2018) Ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death in Fabry disease: a systematic review of risk factors in clinical practice. Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology. 20(FI2):f153-f161.

Biegstraaten M, Arngrimsson R, Barbey F, Boks L, Cecchi F, Deegan PB, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Geberhiwot T, Germain DP, Hendriksz C, Hughes DA, Kantola I, Karabul N, Lavery C, Linthorst GE, Mehta A, van de Mheen E, Oliveira JP, Parini R, Ramaswami U, Rudnicki M, Serra A, Sommer C, Sunder-Plassmann G, Svarstad E, Sweeb A, Terryn W, Tylki-Szymanska A, Tondel C, Vujkovac B, Weidemann F, Wijburg FA, Woolfson P, Hollak CE. (2015) Recommendations for initiation and cessation of enzyme replacement therapy in patients with Fabry disease: the European Fabry Working Group consensus document. Orphanet journal of rare diseases. 10(1750-1172):36.

Bolsover FE, Murphy E, Cipolotti L, Werring DJ, Lachmann RH. (2014) Cognitive dysfunction and depression in Fabry disease: a systematic review. Journal of inherited metabolic disease. 37(2):177-87.

Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Clinical Review Report: Migalastat (Galafold): (Amicus Therapeutics): Indication: Fabry Disease.. (2018) URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30457788

El Dib R, Gomaa H, Carvalho RP, Camargo SE, Bazan R, Barretti P, Barreto FC. (2016) Enzyme replacement therapy for Anderson-Fabry disease. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 7(1469-493X):CD006663.

El Dib R, Gomaa H, Ortiz A, Politei J, Kapoor A, Barreto F. (2017) Enzyme replacement therapy for Anderson-Fabry disease: A complementary overview of a Cochrane publication through a linear regression and a pooled analysis of proportions from cohort studies. PloS one. 12(3):e0173358.

Gaik C., Wiesmann T.. Anaesthesia recommendations for Fabry disease. OrphanAnesthesia (2019) URL: https://www.orphananesthesia.eu/en/rare-diseases/published-guidelines/fabry-disease/885-fabry-disease-2/file.html

Germain DP, Fouilhoux A, Decramer S, Tardieu M, Pillet P, Fila M, Rivera S, Deschenes G, Lacombe D. (2019) Consensus recommendations for diagnosis, management and treatment of Fabry disease in paediatric patients. Clinical genetics. 96(2):107-117.

Hopkin RJ, Jefferies JL, Laney DA, Lawson VH, Mauer M, Taylor MR, Wilcox WR. (2016) The management and treatment of children with Fabry disease: A United States-based perspective. Molecular genetics and metabolism. 117(2):104-13.

Kes VB, Cesarik M, Zavoreo I, Soldo-Butkovic S, Kes P, Basic-Jukic N, Racki S, Jakic M, Delic-Brkljacic D, Jukic Z, Trkanjec Z, Seric V, Solter VV, Bielen I, Basic S, Demarin V. (2013) Guidelines for diagnosis, therapy and follow up of Anderson-Fabry disease. Acta clinica Croatica. 52(3):395-405.

Laney DA, Bennett RL, Clarke V, Fox A, Hopkin RJ, Johnson J, O'Rourke E, Sims K, Walter G. (2013) Fabry disease practice guidelines: recommendations of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Journal of genetic counseling. 22(5):555-64.

Mehta A, Ricci R, Widmer U, Dehout F, Garcia de Lorenzo A, Kampmann C, Linhart A, Sunder-Plassmann G, Ries M, Beck M. (2004) Fabry disease defined: baseline clinical manifestations of 366 patients in the Fabry Outcome Survey. European journal of clinical investigation. 34(3):236-42.

Meschia JF, Bushnell C, Boden-Albala B, Braun LT, Bravata DM, Chaturvedi S, Creager MA, Eckel RH, Elkind MS, Fornage M, Goldstein LB, Greenberg SM, Horvath SE, Iadecola C, Jauch EC, Moore WS, Wilson JA. (2014) Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 45(12):3754-832.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Migalastat for treating Fabry disease. Highly specialised technologies guidance [HST4].. (2017) URL: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/hst4

Ortiz A, Germain DP, Desnick RJ, Politei J, Mauer M, Burlina A, Eng C, Hopkin RJ, Laney D, Linhart A, Waldek S, Wallace E, Weidemann F, Wilcox WR. (2018) Fabry disease revisited: Management and treatment recommendations for adult patients. Molecular genetics and metabolism. 123(4):416-427.

Sheng S, Wu L, Nalleballe K, Sharma R, Brown A, Ranabothu S, Kapoor N, Onteddu S. (2019) Fabry's disease and stroke: Effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in stroke prevention, a review with meta-analysis. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia. 65(1532-2653):83-86.

Terryn W, Cochat P, Froissart R, Ortiz A, Pirson Y, Poppe B, Serra A, Van Biesen W, Vanholder R, Wanner C. (2013) Fabry nephropathy: indications for screening and guidance for diagnosis and treatment by the European Renal Best Practice. Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association. 28(3):505-17.

van der Tol L, Smid BE, Poorthuis BJ, Biegstraaten M, Deprez RH, Linthorst GE, Hollak CE. (2014) A systematic review on screening for Fabry disease: prevalence of individuals with genetic variants of unknown significance. Journal of medical genetics. 51(1):1-9.

Wang RY, Bodamer OA, Watson MS, Wilcox WR. (2011) Lysosomal storage diseases: diagnostic confirmation and management of presymptomatic individuals. Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics. 13(5):457-84.

Wanner C, Arad M, Baron R, Burlina A, Elliott PM, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Fomin VV, Germain DP, Hughes DA, Jovanovic A, Kantola I, Linhart A, Mignani R, Monserrat L, Namdar M, Nowak A, Oliveira JP, Ortiz A, Pieroni M, Spada M, Tylki-Szymanska A, Tondel C, Viana-Baptista M, Weidemann F, Hilz MJ. (2018) European expert consensus statement on therapeutic goals in Fabry disease. Molecular genetics and metabolism. 124(3):189-203.

Early Rule-Out Summary

This topic passed the early rule out stage

Findings of Early Rule-Out Assessment

  1. Is there a qualifying resource, such as a practice guideline or systematic review, for the genetic condition?
  2. Does the practice guideline or systematic review indicate that the result is actionable in one or more of the following ways?
  3. a. Patient Management

    b. Surveillance or Screening

    c. Circumstances to Avoid

  4. Is it actionable in an undiagnosed adult with the condition?
  5. Is this condition an important health problem?
  6. Is there at least on known pathogenic variant with at least moderate penetrance (≥40%) or moderate relative risk (≥2) in any population?