Context Fabry disease is a metabolic disorder without a specific treatment,
caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A (α-gal
A). Most patients experience debilitating neuropathic pain and premature mortality
because of renal failure, cardiovascular disease, or cerebrovascular disease.
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous α-gal A for
Fabry disease.
Design and Setting Double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted from December 1998 to
August 1999 at the Clinical Research Center of the National Institutes of
Health.
Patients Twenty-six hemizygous male patients, aged 18 years or older, with Fabry
disease that was confirmed by α-gal A assay.
Intervention A dosage of 0.2 mg/kg of α-gal A, administered intravenously every
other week (12 doses total).
Main Outcome Measure Effect of therapy on neuropathic pain while without neuropathic pain
medications measured by question 3 of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI).
Results Mean (SE) BPI neuropathic pain severity score declined from 6.2 (0.46)
to 4.3 (0.73) in patients treated with α-gal A vs no significant change
in the placebo group (P = .02). Pain-related quality
of life declined from 3.2 (0.55) to 2.1 (0.56) for patients receiving α-gal
A vs 4.8 (0.59) to 4.2 (0.74) for placebo (P = .05).
In the kidney, glomeruli with mesangial widening decreased by a mean of 12.5%
for patients receiving α-gal vs a 16.5% increase for placebo (P = .01). Mean inulin clearance decreased by 6.2 mL/min
for patients receiving α-gal A vs 19.5 mL/min for placebo (P = .19). Mean creatinine clearance increased by 2.1 mL/min (0.4 mL/s)
for patients receiving α-gal A vs a decrease of 16.1 mL/min (0.3 mL/s)
for placebo (P = .02). In patients treated with α-gal
A, there was an approximately 50% reduction in plasma glycosphingolipid levels,
a significant improvement in cardiac conduction, and a significant increase
in body weight.
Conclusion Intravenous infusions of α-gal A are safe and have widespread
therapeutic efficacy in Fabry disease.