Author/Authors :
Selthofer-Relatic, K. Department for Cardiovascular Disease - Osijek University Hospital, J. Huttlera, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract :
Background. Anderson-Fabry disease is an X-linked inherited disease, which manifests in a different manner depending on gender
and genotype. Making a working diagnosis of Anderson-Fabry disease is difficult because of several reasons: (a) that it is a multiorgan
disease with wide variety of phenotypes, (b) different timelines of presentation, (c) gender differences, and (d) possible coexistence
with other comorbidities. Late-onset/cardiac type of presentation with minimal involvement of other organs can additionally make
diagnosis difficult. Aim. To describe different cardiac manifestations at different time points in the course of the disease: (1) 72-yearold female (echocardiography detection), heterozygote, significant left and mild right ventricular hypertrophy; (2) 62-year-old male
(echocardiography detection), hemizygote, left ventricular hypertrophy, implanted cardiac pacemaker, a performed percutaneous
coronary intervention after myocardial infarction, degenerative medium degree aortic valve stenosis; (3) 45-year-old female
(asymptomatic/family screening), heterozygote, thickened mitral papillary muscle, mild left ventricular hypertrophy, first degree
diastolic dysfunction; and (4) 75-year-old female (symptomatic/family screening), heterozygote, cardiomyopathy with reduced left
ventricular ejection fraction after heart surgery (mitral valve annuloplasty and plastic repair of the tricuspid valve). Conclusion. All
patients have Anderson-Fabry disease but with different clinical presentations depending on the gender, the type of mutation, and the
time of detection. All these features can make the patients’ profiles unique and delay the time of detection.