Fabry's disease pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Pathophysiology
Genetics
- Fabry's disease follows an X-linked recessive inheritance pattern.
- A deficiency of the enzyme alpha galactosidase A causes a glycolipid known as globotriaosylceramide (also abbreviated as Gb3, GL-3, or ceramide trihexoside) to accumulate within the blood vessels, mononuclear phagocytes, neurons, other tissues, and organs.
- This accumulation leads to an impairment of their proper function. The condition affects hemizygous males, as well as both heterozygous and homozygous females; males tend to experience the most severe clinical symptoms, while females vary from virtually no symptoms to those as serious as males.
- This variability is thought to be due to X-inactivation patterns during embryonic development of the female.