Ersözlü, S., Huynh-Do, U., Canaan-Kühl, S., Barbey, F., Genitsch, V., Müller, T., Schaub, S., Cheetham, M., & Nowak. A. (2018). Long-Term Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation in Fabry Disease. Transplantation. 2018 Apr 24. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000002252

Ersözlü, S., Huynh-Do, U., Canaan-Kühl, S., Barbey, F., Genitsch, V., Müller, T., Schaub, S., Cheetham, M., & Nowak. A

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the α-galactosidase A gene that obliterate or markedly reduce α-galactosidase A activity. This results in the systemic accumulation of its glycosphingolipid substrates in body fluids and organs, including the kidney. Fabry nephropathy can lead to end-stage renal disease requiring kidney transplantation. Little is known about its long-term outcomes and the overall patient survival after kidney transplantation. Here, we report 17 Fabry patients (15 male and 2 female subjects) who received kidney transplants and their long-term treatment and follow-up at 4 specialized Fabry centers. The posttransplant follow-up ranged to 25 years, with a median of 11.5 (range, 0.8-25.5] years. Graft survival was similar, and death-censored graft survival was superior to matched controls. Fabry patients died with functioning kidneys, mostly from cardiac causes. In 2 male subjects 14 and 23 years posttransplant, the grafts had a few typical FD lamellar inclusions, presumably originating from invading host macrophages and vascular endothelial cells. We conclude that kidney transplantation has an excellent long-term outcome in FD.

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