Abstract
Fabry disease, an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, results from the deficient activity of α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A). In affected males, the clinical diagnosis is confirmed by the markedly decreased α-Gal A activity. However, in female heterozygotes, the α-Gal A activity can range from low to normal due to random X-chromosomal inactivation, and diagnostic confirmation requires identification of the family's α-Gal A gene mutation. In a young female who had occasional acroparesthesias, corneal opacities, and 15 to 50% of the lower limit of normal leukocyte α-Gal A activity, α-Gal A sequencing in two expert laboratories did not identify a confirmatory mutation, presenting a diagnostic dilemma. A renal biopsy proved diagnostic and renewed efforts to detect an α-Gal A mutation. Subsequent gene dosage analyses identified a large α-Gal A deletion confirming her heterozygosity, and she was started on enzyme replacement therapy. Thus, gene dosage analyses can detect large deletions (> 50. bp) in suspect heterozygotes for X-linked and autosomal dominant diseases that are "sequencing cryptic," resolving molecular diagnostic dilemmas.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Molecular Genetics and Metabolism |
Volume | 104 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 314-8 |
Number of pages | 5 |
ISSN | 1096-7192 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2011 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Biopsy
- Enzyme Replacement Therapy
- Fabry Disease
- Female
- Gene Components
- Gene Dosage
- Heterozygote Detection
- Humans
- Kidney
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Deletion
- alpha-Galactosidase