Long-term changes in arterial structure and function and left ventricular geometry after enzyme replacement therapy in patients affected with Fabry disease

Aims: Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disorder due to deficient alpha-galactosidase A activity, characterised by glycosphingolipids deposition in tissues. Patients have a common arterial involvement and contract progressive renal and cardiac disease. Although short-term effects of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) on target organs have been established, no data are available on the long-term outcome. Methods and results: We studied the effects of ERT (agalsidase beta, 1 mg/kg/14 days) on arterial and cardiac structure and function during a longitudinal study beginning in 1999, with 4.5 +/- 0.4 years follow-up (four visits) in 30 patients (age: 33 +/- 12 years). In addition, we studied 16 untreated Fabry patients during 2.6 +/- 1.6 years (two visits). Aortic stiffness was determined by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, central pulse pressure by aplanation tonometry, and carotid and radial intima-media thickness and diameter by high definition echotracking device. Left ventricular mass was determined by MRI. A significant decrease in aortic stiffness (-0.56 +/- 0.13 m/s/yr, p = 0.0002) was observed after ERT whereas central pulse pressure did not change. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) increased (+18 +/- 6 mu m/yr; p < 0.005) whereas radial IMT remained stable. Radial artery diameter decreased (-50 +/- 20 mu m/years, p < 0.05) whereas carotid diameter did not change. Carotid circumferential wall stress was reduced (-1.7 +/- 0.6 kPa/yrs, p < 0.01). Left ventricular mass index significantly decreased (-7.8 +/- 2.3 g/m(2)/yr, p < 0.005). Conclusion: A sustained reduction in aortic stiffness and left ventricular hypertrophy, and a limited radial artery wall thickening were observed after long-term enzyme replacement therapy. There was no significant benefit of treatment on carotid hypertrophy.