Effect of enzyme replacement therapy on serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels, coronary flow reserve and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with Fabry disease

Characteristics of coronary artery disease in chronic kidney disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) commonly experience cardiovascular disease (CVD), and a major cause of death in these patients is CVD. Therefore, the prevention of CVD progression is very crucial in patients with CKD. Recently, this relationship between CKD and CVD has increasingly been examined, and a concept termed “cardiorenal syndrome” has been advocated. Coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial injury are crucial factors that contribute to the occurrence of CVD. The initial step CAD is endothelial dysfunction that can be detected as a decrease in the coronary flow reserve (CFR). The previous studies have reported that decreased CFR is significantly correlated to coronary events and mortality. Furthermore, CFR reduces with a decline in the kidney function. Another important presentation of CAD is coronary artery calcification. Vascular calcification is a crucial pathophysiological state, particularly in patients with CKD, and it affects the stability of coronary atherosclerotic plaque. In CKD, not only the traditional risk factors but also CKD-related non-traditional risk factors play key roles in CVD progression. Therefore, the mechanisms responsible for CVD progression are very complex; however, their clarification is crucial to improve the prognosis in patients with CKD.

The effect of enzyme replacement therapy on clinical outcomes in female patients with Fabry disease - A systematic literature review by a European panel of experts

BACKGROUND

Heterozygous females with Fabry disease have a wide range of clinical phenotypes depending on the nature of their mutation and their X-chromosome inactivation pattern; it is therefore important to examine outcomes of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in the female patient population specifically. This paper presents the findings of a systematic literature review of treatment outcomes with ERT in adult female patients.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted through January 2017 to retrieve published papers with original data on ERT in the treatment of Fabry disease. The review included all original articles that presented ERT outcomes data on patients with Fabry disease, irrespective of the study type.

RESULTS

Clinical evidence for the efficacy of ERT in female patients was available from 67 publications including six clinical trial publications, and indicates significant reductions in plasma and urine globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) accumulation (in female patients with elevated pre-treatment levels) and improvements in cardiac parameters and quality of life (QoL). To date, data are insufficient to conclude on the effects of ERT on the nervous system, gastrointestinal manifestations, and pain in female patients with Fabry disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This review of available literature data demonstrates that ERT in adult female patients with Fabry disease has a beneficial effect on GL-3 levels and cardiac outcomes. The current evidence also suggests that ERT may improve QoL in this patient population, though further studies are needed to examine these results.

The effect of enzyme replacement therapy on clinical outcomes in male patients with Fabry disease: A systematic literature review by a European panel of experts

Background

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant human α-galactosidase has been available for the treatment of Fabry disease since 2001 in Europe and 2003 in the USA. Treatment outcomes with ERT are dependent on baseline patient characteristics, and published data are derived from heterogeneous study populations.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review of all original articles on ERT in the treatment of Fabry disease published up until January 2017. This article presents the findings in adult male patients.

Results

Clinical evidence for the efficacy of ERT in adult male patients was available from 166 publications including 36 clinical trial publications. ERT significantly decreases globotriaosylceramide levels in plasma, urine, and in different kidney, heart, and skin cell types, slows the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate, and reduces/stabilizes left ventricular mass and cardiac wall thickness. ERT also improves nervous system, gastrointestinal, pain, and quality of life outcomes.

Conclusions

ERT is a disease-specific treatment for patients with Fabry disease that may provide clinical benefits on several outcomes and organ systems. Better outcomes may be observed when treatment is started at an early age prior to the development of organ damage such as chronic kidney disease or cardiac fibrosis. Consolidated evidence suggests a dose effect. Data described in male patients, together with female and paediatric data, informs clinical practice and therapeutic goals for individualized treatment.