title: Fabry Disease: Recognition, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Neurological Features.
abstract: Fabry disease is an X-linked, lysosomal storage disorder caused by a mutation in the GLA gene leading to a deficiency in alpha-galactosidase A enzyme (α-Gal A) activity, which in turn results in accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in the vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells of different organs, including kidney and heart, finally leading to impairment or failure of organ function. The central and peripheral nervous systems are also affected leading to neurological manifestations such as cerebrovascular diseases, small fiber neuropathy (SFN), and dysautonomic disorders that may be the presenting clinical features in a proportion of patients. This review offers a complete update of all neurological aspects of Fabry disease and therapeutic options. The rarity of disease, as well as the incomplete knowledge regarding natural history, pathogenic mechanisms, and the uncertain efficacy of available therapies, make imperative the acquisition of standardized data on natural disease course. These data are fundamental for the development of new treatments better able to access the central nervous system, to bypass the neutralizing antibodies and to improve the heart and kidney function.
authors.affiliation: Cerebrovascular Unit, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Via Celoria 11, Milan, 20133, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Cerebrovascular Unit, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Via Celoria 11, Milan, 20133, Italy.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedini
authors.affiliation: Cerebrovascular Unit, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Via Celoria 11, Milan, 20133, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio Agostino
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Parati
authors.affiliation: Cerebrovascular Unit, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Via Celoria 11, Milan, 20133, Italy. anna.bersano@istituto-besta.it.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bersano
keywords: Enzyme recombinant treatment; Fabry disease; Neuroimaging; Neurological aspects; Peripheral neuropathy; Stroke; Treatment