Left ventricular radial strain impairment precedes hypertrophy in Anderson-Fabry disease

Effects of Enzyme Replacement Therapy on Cardiac MRI Findings in Fabry Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of enzyme replacement therapy on cardiac MRI parameters in patients with Fabry disease. Materials and Methods A systematic literature search was conducted from January 1, 2000, through January 1, 2024, in PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Study outcomes were changes in the following parameters: (a) left ventricular wall mass (LVM), measured in grams; (b) LVM indexed to body mass index, measured in grams per meters squared; (c) maximum left ventricular wall thickness (MLVWT), measured in millimeters; (d) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) extent, measured in percentage of LVM; and (e) native T1 mapping, measured in milliseconds. A random-effects meta-analysis of the pooled mean differences between baseline and follow-up parameters was conducted. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022336223). Results The final analysis included 11 studies of a total of 445 patients with Fabry disease (mean age ± SD, 41 years ± 11; 277 male, 168 female). Between baseline and follow-up cardiac MRI, the following did not change: T1 mapping (mean difference, 6 msec [95% CI: -2, 15]; two studies, 70 patients, I2 = 88%) and LVM indexed (mean difference, -1 g/m2 [95% CI: -6, 3]; four studies, 290 patients, I2 = 81%). The following measures minimally decreased: LVM (mean difference, -18 g [95% CI: -33, -3]; seven studies, 107 patients, I2 = 96%) and MLVWT (mean difference, -1 mm [95% CI: -2, -0.02]; six studies, 151 patients, I2 = 90%). LGE extent increased (mean difference, 1% [95% CI: 1, 1]; three studies, 114 patients, I2 = 85%). Conclusion In patients with Fabry disease, enzyme replacement therapy was associated with stabilization of LVM, MLVWT, and T1 mapping values, whereas LGE extent mildly increased. Keywords: Fabry Disease, Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT), Cardiac MRI, Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.

Diagnostic value of left ventricular layer strain and specific regional strain patterns in cardiac amyloidosis and Fabry disease

Aims

Layer-specific left ventricular (LV) strain alterations have been suggested as a specific finding in Fabry disease (FD). Our study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of layer-specific radial strain (RS) indices compared to the established LV regional strain pattern in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and FD, i.e. apical sparing and posterolateral strain deficiency (PLSD).

Methods and results

We retrospectively analysed the global, subendocardial, subepicardial LV radial strain, the corresponding strain gradient, as well as the regional and global longitudinal strain. The diagnostic accuracy of the diverse LV strain analyses was comparatively assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve and multivariable regression analyses. In 40 FD and 76 CA patients, CA featured more reduced layer strain values [global RS -12.3 (-15.6 to -9.6) in CA vs. -16.7 (-20.0 to -13.6) in FD; P < 0.001; subendocardial RS -22.3 (-27.4 to -15.9) vs. -28.3 (-31.8 to -23.6), P < 0.001; subepicardial RS -6.6 (-8.6 to -4.7) in CA vs. -8.9 (-11.7 to - 6.5) in FD; P < 0.001]. Global radial and longitudinal strain held an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.75 (0.66-0.84) and AUC 0.73 (0.63-0.83). While the apical sparing and PLSD strain pattern showed the highest accuracy as single parameters [AUC 0.87 (0.79-0.95) and 0.81 (0.72-0.89), P < 0.001], the combination of subendocardial RS and the apical sparing pattern featured the highest diagnostic accuracy [AUC 0.92 (0.87-0.97)].

Conclusion

Combining radial strain-derived parameters to the established strain pattern apical sparing and PLSD improve the diagnostic accuracy in the echocardiographic assessment in suspected storage disease.

Three-dimensional echocardiographic left ventricular strain analysis in Fabry disease: correlation with heart failure severity, myocardial scar, and impact on long-term prognosis

AIMS

Fabry disease (FD) is a multisystemic lysosomal storage disorder caused by a defect in the alpha-galactosidase A gene that manifests as a phenocopy of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We assessed the echocardiographic 3D left ventricular (LV) strain of patients with FD in relation to heart failure severity using natriuretic peptides, the presence of a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement scar, and long-term prognosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

3D echocardiography was feasible in 75/99 patients with FD [aged 47 ± 14 years, 44% males, LV ejection fraction (EF) 65 ± 6% and 51% with hypertrophy or concentric remodelling of the LV]. Long-term prognosis (death, heart failure decompensation, or cardiovascular hospitalization) was assessed over a median follow-up of 3.1 years. A stronger correlation was observed for N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels with 3D LV global longitudinal strain (GLS, r = -0.49, P < 0.0001) than with 3D LV global circumferential strain (GCS, r = -0.38, P < 0.001) or 3D LVEF (r = -0.25, P = 0.036). Individuals with posterolateral scar on CMR had lower posterolateral 3D circumferential strain (CS; P = 0.009). 3D LV-GLS was associated with long-term prognosis [adjusted hazard ratio 0.85 (confidence interval 0.75-0.95), P = 0.004], while 3D LV-GCS and 3D LVEF were not (P = 0.284 and P = 0.324).

CONCLUSION

3D LV-GLS is associated with both heart failure severity measured by natriuretic peptide levels and long-term prognosis. Decreased posterolateral 3D CS reflects typical posterolateral scarring in FD. Where feasible, 3D-strain echocardiography can be used for a comprehensive mechanical assessment of the LV in patients with FD.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Fabry's Disease: New Advances in Diagnostic Strategies, Outcome Prediction and Management

Cardiovascular involvement is common in Fabry's disease and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The research is focused on identifying diagnostic clues suggestive of cardiovascular involvement in the preclinical stage of the disease through clinical and imaging markers. Different pathophysiologically driven therapies are currently or will soon be available for the treatment of Fabry's disease, with the most significant benefit observed in the early stages of the disease. Thus, early diagnosis and risk stratification for adverse outcomes are crucial to determine when to start an aetiological treatment. This review describes the cardiovascular involvement in Fabry's disease, focusing on the advances in diagnostic strategies, outcome prediction and disease management.

Fabry disease: Mechanism and therapeutics strategies

Fabry disease is a monogenic disease characterized by a deficiency or loss of the α-galactosidase A (GLA). The resulting impairment in lysosomal GLA enzymatic activity leads to the pathogenic accumulation of enzymatic substrate and, consequently, the progressive appearance of clinical symptoms in target organs, including the heart, kidney, and brain. However, the mechanisms involved in Fabry disease-mediated organ damage are largely ambiguous and poorly understood, which hinders the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of this disorder. Although currently available clinical approaches have shown some efficiency in the treatment of Fabry disease, they all exhibit limitations that need to be overcome. In this review, we first introduce current mechanistic knowledge of Fabry disease and discuss potential therapeutic strategies for its treatment. We then systemically summarize and discuss advances in research on therapeutic approaches, including enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), gene therapy, and chaperone therapy, as well as strategies targeting subcellular compartments, such as lysosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the nucleus. Finally, the future development of potential therapeutic strategies is discussed based on the results of mechanistic studies and the limitations associated with these therapeutic approaches.

Fabry Disease and the Heart: A Comprehensive Review

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations of the GLA gene that result in a deficiency of the enzymatic activity of α-galactosidase A and consequent accumulation of glycosphingolipids in body fluids and lysosomes of the cells throughout the body. GB3 accumulation occurs in virtually all cardiac cells (cardiomyocytes, conduction system cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial and smooth muscle vascular cells), ultimately leading to ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis, heart failure, valve disease, angina, dysrhythmias, cardiac conduction abnormalities, and sudden death. Despite available therapies and supportive treatment, cardiac involvement carries a major prognostic impact, representing the main cause of death in FD. In the last years, knowledge has substantially evolved on the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to cardiac damage, the natural history of cardiac manifestations, the late-onset phenotypes with predominant cardiac involvement, the early markers of cardiac damage, the role of multimodality cardiac imaging on the diagnosis, management and follow-up of Fabry patients, and the cardiac efficacy of available therapies. Herein, we provide a comprehensive and integrated review on the cardiac involvement of FD, at the pathophysiological, anatomopathological, laboratory, imaging, and clinical levels, as well as on the diagnosis and management of cardiac manifestations, their supportive treatment, and the cardiac efficacy of specific therapies, such as enzyme replacement therapy and migalastat.