Actionability Assertions

Gene Condition (MONDO ID) OMIM ID Final Assertion
No assertions found.

Actionability Assertion Rationale

  • This topic was initially scored prior to development of the process for making actionability assertions. The Actionability Working Group decided to defer making an assertion until after the topic could be reviewed through the update process.

Actionability Scores

Outcome / Intervention Pair Severity Likelihood Effectiveness Nature of Intervention Total Score
End-stage organ disease / ERT (classic males) 2 3E 1A 2 8EA
End-stage organ disease / ERT (late-onset males) 2 3E 1A 2 8EA
End-stage organ disease / ERT (females) 2 3E 1A 2 8EA
Stroke prevention / Aspirin (classic males) 2 2E 0B 3 7EB
Stroke prevention / Aspirin (late-onset males) 2 2E 0B 3 7EB
Stroke prevention / Aspirin (females) 2 2E 0B 3 7EB
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 is estimated at 1:50,000 males; for both sexes, the population incidence estimates have ranged from 1:80,000 to 1:117,000. Studies suggest that milder forms of the disease that present later in life and primarily affect the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or renal system may be more common and may be underdiagnosed.
View Citations

A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, El Dib RP, et al. (2013) PMID: 23450571

Clinical Features (Signs / symptoms)

Fabry disease results from deficient activity of the enzyme ɑ-galactosidase (ɑ-Gal A) and progressive lysosomal deposition of globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) in cells throughout the body. The classic form occurs in males with less than 1% ɑ-Gal A enzyme activity and usually has onset in childhood or adolescent years (generally ages 4-8 years). The onset of symptoms in the classic form occurs in childhood or adolescence with periodic crises of severe pain in the extremities, appearance of vascular cutaneous lesions, hypohidrosis (diminished sweating response), and corneal and lenticular opacities. Cardiac and/or cerebrovascular disease (e.g., LV-hypertrophy, heart failure, stenosis, atherosclerotic plaques, coronary vasospasm, thrombotic and thromboembolic complications) is present in most males by middle age; mitral insufficiency may be present in childhood and adolescence. Progressive decline in renal function leads to end stage renal disease (ESRD) usually during the third to fifth decade. Patients also have gastrointestinal, auditory, pulmonary, vascular, cranial nerve, and psychological manifestations.Heterozygous females typically have milder symptoms and a later age of onset than males. Rarely, females may be relatively asymptomatic and have a normal life span or may have symptoms as severe as males with the classic phenotype.Males with a greater than 1% ɑ-Gal A activity present later and may have either a cardiac variant phenotype or renal variant phenotype. For those with the cardiac variant, age of presentation is generally in the sixth to eight decade of life with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), mitral insufficiency and/or cardiomyopathy with proteinuria but without ESRD. Clinical manifestations of the cardiac variant may be found in women as well as men. The renal variant phenotype is typically associated with ESRD without the skin or pain symptoms associated with classic Fabry disease.
View Citations

A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, El Dib RP, et al. (2013) PMID: 23450571, Eng CM, et al. (2006) PMID: 16980809

Natural History (Important subgroups & survival / recovery)

Based on registry data, the life expectancy for patients was 58.2 years in males and 75.4 years for females. The most common cause of death among both sexes was cardiovascular disease with most patients dying of cardiovascular disease having previously received renal replacement therapy. Before the availability of dialysis and transplantation, death from kidney failure occurred early in the first decade in classically affected males. Those 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

A Mehta, et al. (2002) NCBI: NBK1292, Eng CM, et al. (2006) PMID: 16980809

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 %
Efforts to establish genotype-phenotype correlations have been limited because most families with Fabry disease are reported to have a private mutation.
Tier 5 View Citations

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

Across three major Fabry disease registries the following histories were found at baseline:<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Males (mean age 35-39)Cardiac hypertrophy: 42-59%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Chronic kidney disease >= stage 2: 47-56%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Proteinuria: 54-62%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Stroke: 7-16%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Pain: 79-81%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Gastrointestinal symptoms: 55-81%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Females (mean age 40-44)Cardiac hypertrophy: 26-35%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Chronic kidney disease ≥ stage 2: 54-65%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Proteinuria: 24-41%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Stroke: 4-16%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Pain: 56-65%<p class="paragraph-separator"></p>Gastrointestinal symptoms: 50-70%.
Tier 5 View Citations

Sirrs S, et al. (2010) PMID: 20022777

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

Unknown
NA

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).
View Citations

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

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

Patients should undergo baseline evaluation by a multidisciplinary team. Evaluation should include a complete physical and psychological exam including quality of life, measurement of ɑ-galactosidase A levels, and examination of the following systems: renal, cardiac, neurologic, ear/nose/throat, ophthalmologic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and skeletal.
Tier 2 View Citations

Eng CM, et al. (2006) PMID: 16980809, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Laney DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 23860966, Salviati A, et al. (2010) PMID: 20300794, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755

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 global practice, there is wide variability in the usage of ERT even for hemizygotes, with some starting therapy at a young age even without symptoms and others waiting until end organ damage is evident.
Tier 2 View Citations

Eng CM, et al. (2006) PMID: 16980809, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Laney DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 23860966, Salviati A, et al. (2010) PMID: 20300794, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755, Wang RY, et al. (2011) PMID: 21502868

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

Wang RY, et al. (2011) PMID: 21502868

Treatment with enzyme replacement therapy (using agalsidase alfa or beta) may reduce the rate of end-organ complications (stroke, cardiac and renal events, death) compared to untreated patients. Evidence for this effect is mixed and weak, and includes patients with advanced-stage disease as well as studies of small size. One RCT (n=82; mean age 46, 12% female) of patients with Fabry with mild-moderate kidney disease showed that treatment with agalsidase beta delayed time to first clinical event (HR: 0.47 (95% CI, 0.21 to 1.03) p = 0.06) with the most significant effect found in patients with baseline GFR rates greater than 55mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR: 0.19 (95% CI: 0.05 to 0.82) p= 0.025). One prospective study (57 treated patients with agalsidase alfa or beta; mean age 58; 50% female) composed mainly of patients with classic Fabry with chronic kidney disease, LVH, or white matter lesions found no difference in time to first (p=0.69) or second complication (p=0.72) between treated patients and registry control data; however, the odds for developing a complication declined with longer treatment duration for both first (0.81 [0.68-0.96] per year of ERT) and second complications (0.52 [0.31-0.88] per year of ERT) regardless of sex. One cohort study of 289 patients with Fabry disease (mean age 44; 58% female) found no difference between treatment status and the probability of having a stroke/TIA (HR = 2.08 (95% CI 0.42 to 10.20) p = 0.36 ). A prospective cohort of 40 patients with genetically proven Fabry diseae (mean age 40; 22% female) found no difference in the rate of a end-organ complications between the ERT treated patients and a historical cohort (sex adjusted HR 1.48 (95% CI 0.72-3.06) p= 0.284.
Tier 1 View Citations

El Dib RP, et al. (2013) PMID: 23450571, Rombach SM, et al. (2014) PMID: 24492980

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

Eng CM, et al. (2006) PMID: 16980809, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776

Risk of stroke is elevated in patients with Fabry disease. One cohort study found that among 33 Fabry patients, 24% suffered at least one stroke by the age of 29. In order to reduce stroke risk, aspirin may be offered starting at age 30 for males and age 35 for females. Adequate intake of vitamins B12, B6, C, and folate should be promoted.
Tier 2 View Citations

Eng CM, et al. (2006) PMID: 16980809

Surveillance

Patients should undergo regular surveillance including complete physical and psychological exams and surveillance of the following systems: kidney, cardiac, neurologic, ear/nose/throat, ophthalmologic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and skeletal. Type and frequency of surveillance vary across systems and with individual patient symptoms.
Tier 2 View Citations

Eng CM, et al. (2006) PMID: 16980809, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776, Laney DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 23860966, Salviati A, et al. (2010) PMID: 20300794, Terryn W, et al. (2013) PMID: 23234755

Circumstances to Avoid

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

Eng CM, et al. (2006) PMID: 16980809, Kes VB, et al. (2013) PMID: 24558776

Given the potential effects on cellular levels of ɑ-galactosidase A, amiodarone (an antiarhythmia drug) has been contraindicated in persons with Fabry disease. However, there is little evidence of a detrimental effect and the relative benefit in patients with cardiac arrhythmia should be considered.
Tier 3 View Citations

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

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 enzyme replacement therapy.
Context: Adult

Chance to Escape Clinical Detection

It is unlikely that those with the classic form of Fabry disease would be missed in clinical care; however, for female patients and those with late-onset variants, renal and cardiac manifestations, may present with stroke or ESRD as their initial manifestation. Recent studies have found that nearly half of Fabry patients (46%) experience their first stroke before being diagnosed.
Context: Adult
Tier 3 View Citations

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

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

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/

El Dib RP, Nascimento P, Pastores GM. (2013) Enzyme replacement therapy for Anderson-Fabry disease. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2(2):CD006663.

Eng CM, Germain DP, Banikazemi M, Warnock DG, Wanner C, Hopkin RJ, Bultas J, Lee P, Sims K, Brodie SE, Pastores GM, Strotmann JM, Wilcox WR. (2006) Fabry disease: guidelines for the evaluation and management of multi-organ system involvement. Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics. 8(9):539-48.

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.

Rombach SM, Smid BE, Linthorst GE, Dijkgraaf MG, Hollak CE. (2014) Natural course of Fabry disease and the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis: effectiveness of ERT in different disease stages. Journal of inherited metabolic disease. 37(3):341-52.

Salviati A, Burlina AP, Borsini W. (2010) Nervous system and Fabry disease, from symptoms to diagnosis: damage evaluation and follow-up in adult patients, enzyme replacement, and support therapy. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology. 31(3):299-306.

Sirrs S, Clarke JT, Bichet DG, Casey R, Lemoine K, Flowerdew G, Sinasac DS, West ML. (2010) Baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the Canadian Fabry Disease Initiative. Molecular genetics and metabolism. 99(4):367-73.

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.

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?