Next Article in Journal
Evaluation of Intracellular Gene Transfers from Plastome to Nuclear Genome across Progressively Improved Assemblies for Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa
Next Article in Special Issue
Anterior Umbilication of Lens in a Family with Congenital Cataracts Associated with a Missense Mutation of MIP Gene
Previous Article in Journal
Embryonic Heterogeneity of Smooth Muscle Cells in the Complex Mechanisms of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms
Previous Article in Special Issue
Prenatal Cases Reflect the Complexity of the COL1A1/2 Associated Osteogenesis Imperfecta
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

The Benefits of Family Screening in Rare Diseases: Genetic Testing Reveals 165 New Cases of Fabry Disease among At-Risk Family Members of 83 Index Patients

1
Tareev Clinic of Internal Disease, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
2
Faculty of Medicine, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
3
Geneo Referral Centre for Fabry Disease, Filière G2M, MetabERN European Reference Network, Paris-Saclay University, 92380 Garches, France
4
Second Department of Internal Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 12808 Prague, Czech Republic
5
Faculty of Medicine, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh 12211, Cambodia
6
Division of Medical Genetics, University of Versailles, 78180 Montigny, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Genes 2022, 13(9), 1619; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13091619
Submission received: 27 May 2022 / Revised: 31 August 2022 / Accepted: 1 September 2022 / Published: 9 September 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic and Phenotypic Correlation: Gene-Disease Validation)

Abstract

:
Background: Fabry disease (FD, OMIM #301500) is a rare, progressive, X-linked, inherited genetic disease caused by a functional deficiency of lysosomal α-galactosidase, leading to the accumulation of glycosphingolipids in virtually all of the body’s cell types and fluids. Patients with rare genetic diseases and non-specific symptoms often experience substantial diagnostic delays, which can negatively impact the prompt initiation of treatment. If FD is not treated specifically, end organ damage (such as chronic renal failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with arrhythmia, and strokes) impairs quality of life and reduces life expectancy. Patients and Methods: For 83 consecutive patients with FD referred to the Russian reference center for lysosomal storage diseases, family trees were built and genetic testing (cascade genotyping) was offered to family members. Results: The pathogenic GLA variant associated with FD was identified for all 83 probands. Family testing using cascade genotyping enabled the identification of 165 additional cases of FD among the tested 331 at-risk family members. Discussion: This is the first study to have described family screening in a large Russian cohort of patients with FD and chronic kidney disease. Raising awareness of FD among clinicians is important for earlier diagnosis and specific treatment.

1. Introduction

Fabry disease (OMIM #301500) is a rare, X-linked, lysosomal disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the GLA gene (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee ID: 4296; Gene Entrez: 2717; NCBI reference sequence: NM_000169.3) [1,2]. The genetic defect results in the absence of (or a substantial decrease in) α-galactosidase activity (AGAL, Enzyme Commission number: EC 3.2.1.22; UniProt ID: P06280) [3,4,5] and thus the accumulation of glycosphingolipids (mainly globotriosylceramide, also referred to as GL3 and Gb3) and its deacylated derivative (globotriaosylsphingosine, also referred to as lyso-Gb3) [6] in most of the body’s cell types and fluids. This accumulation progressively and irreversibly damages vital organs, including the kidney, the heart, and the brain.
Early signs and symptoms of Fabry disease include neuropathic pain [7], angiokeratoma, hypohidrosis, and gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and episodes of diarrhea) from childhood or adolescence onwards, which precede overt renal impairment [5,8], left ventricular hypertrophy [9], and/or recurrent strokes or transient ischemic attacks [10,11]. The clinical expression of Fabry disease is usually more severe in hemizygous males than in heterozygous females. However, females also can exhibit both early and late signs and symptoms of Fabry disease as a result of skewed X-chromosome inactivation, which can favor the expression of the mutant allele [12].
Given the effectiveness of long-term enzyme replacement therapy [13,14,15] and treatment with small-molecule pharmacological chaperones [16], timely diagnosis is the key to the successful treatment of Fabry disease. Disease-specific therapies can reduce levels of neuropathic pain and prevent or slow down organ damage [17]. However, FD is often diagnosed late—sometimes decades late—because clinicians are not sufficiently aware of rare diseases, or because patients with a later-onset Fabry disease phenotype (often affecting a single organ system, commonly the heart) do not display alerting signs and symptoms. Moreover, the initial symptoms of classic Fabry disease can also be non-specific (e.g., gastrointestinal disorders and autonomic neuropathy), misleading (e.g., recurrent, unexplained fever), or overlooked (a skin rash and a keratopathy, cornea verticillata).
Undiagnosed patients with Fabry disease can be detected by screening at-risk populations, such as patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis or kidney transplantation [18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26], patients with unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy [27,28,29,30], and young adults with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack [31]. The diagnostic yield of these expensive screening programs is low: from 0–0.2% in dialysis units to 0.5–0.9% in patients with unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy [32]. Moreover, diagnosed patients in at-risk groups often have late-stage renal disease or cerebrovascular disease with irreversible organ damage, which has a negative impact on clinical outcomes. In certain screening settings (e.g., adult patients with early, undifferentiated arthritis or children with chronic pain in the distal limbs), the diagnostic yield is essentially zero. Nevertheless, screening protocols for Fabry disease in at-risk patients also pave the way to family screening; affected relatives (notably children and young adults) can then benefit from earlier treatment and genetic counselling [33]. Testing the family of newly diagnosed patients with Fabry disease can also improve a screening protocol’s cost effectiveness [33].
The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of family genetic testing for index patients with Fabry disease and to identify obstacles to this testing.

2. Patients and Methods

We performed a retrospective study of 83 consecutive patients with Fabry disease, consulting at a Russian reference center for lysosomal diseases (Tareev Clinic of Internal Diseases, Moscow, Russia). All participants gave their written, informed consent to use of their personal medical data. The study was conducted in accordance with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the local institutional review board (Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia) on 24 January 2021.
All patients were asked about other family members who were potentially affected by Fabry disease, in view of the X-linked pattern of inheritance [34]. If necessary, patient’s relatives were asked to provide more detailed information about the family. For each proband, a family tree was constructed and analyzed with regard to: the total number of family members at risk of inheriting the pathogenic variant, the number of relatives screened for Fabry disease, and the number of relatives diagnosed with Fabry disease. Deceased family members were included in the study only if Fabry disease had been unambiguously diagnosed prior to death.
The diagnostic criteria for Fabry disease included low or absent AGAL activity and a pathogenic variant in the GLA gene combined with at least one specific symptom (neuropathic pain, cornea verticillata, and/or angiokeratoma), and/or increased globotriaosylsphingosine (Lyso-Gb3), and/or an affected family member with a definite diagnosis of Fabry disease. Neuropathic pain was defined as an episode of pain in the hands and/or feet triggered by fever, exercise, or heat, and that had first occurred in childhood or adolescence [7,14]. Angiokeratoma was characterized by clusters of small, dark red spots in characteristic areas, including the bathing trunk area, lips, and umbilicus. Cornea verticillata corresponded to a whorl-like pattern of corneal opacities in the absence of amphiphilic drug use (e.g., amiodarone and chloroquine).
AGAL activity was determined from filter paper dried blood spots, using a validated ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry method (Bruker Maxis Impact, Bremen, Germany). Lyso-Gb3 was assayed by tandem mass spectrometry on dried blood spots at Centogene AG (Rostock, Germany), Archimed Life Science GmbH (Vienna, Austria), Research Centre for Medical Genetics (Moscow, Russia) or Scientific Center of Children Health (Moscow, Russia). The lyso-Gb3 assay cut-off values were ≤1.8 at Centogene AG, ≤3.5 ng/mL at Archimed Life Science GmbH and ≤2.0 ng/mL in Russian laboratories.
For cascade genotyping, the coding exons (1–7) and flanking intronic regions of the GLA gene were amplified from purified genomic DNA using PCR. The purified DNA amplicons were sequenced with the Big Dye Terminator version 3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). The products were purified with the Big Dye X Terminator Purification Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and resolved using the ABI 3500xL Genetic Analyzer. The data were analyzed using ABI Data Collection software (version 3.0, Thermo Fisher Scientific), Sequencing Analysis software (version 5.2, Thermo Fisher Scientific), and SeqScape software (version 2.6, Thermo Fisher Scientific). Sequences were compared with the reference DNA sequence (GenBank Accession: NM_000169.3).

Statistical Methods

Continuous variables were quoted as the mean ± standard deviation and/or the median [interquartile range (IQR)], and categorical variables were quoted as the frequency (percentage). Median values were compared using a Wilcoxon test. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistics software (version 22, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA).

3. Results

3.1. Characteristics of the Index Cases

We identified 83 probands (72 males and 11 females) with a definite diagnosis of Fabry disease (Table 1). Thirty-eight (45.8%) patients were undergoing renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease and were diagnosed during a nationwide screening program, conducted in Russia’s hemodialysis units. All but three probands were aged 18 or over.
Missense, nonsense, and other pathogenic variants (deletions, splice mutations, or insertions) in the GLA gene were found in 50 (60.2%), 15 (18.1%), and 18 (21.7%) patients, respectively. Six variants (c.334C>T, c.644A>G, c.658C>T, c.679C>T, c.680G>A, c.901C>T) were found in more than one family. AGAL activity was absent or very low in 64 (100.0%) males and 4 (40.0%) females. The lyso-Gb3 level was above the upper reference limit in all patients and was significantly higher in males than in females.
Most patients presented with early alerting symptoms that were highly suggestive of classic Fabry disease in childhood or adolescence [4,14]. However, the median diagnostic delay was 21 years. At the time of diagnosis, all but one of the patients had advanced renal disease, significant left ventricular hypertrophy, and/or a history of stroke. Following their diagnosis, 39 (46.9%) probands initiated enzyme replacement therapy.
Interestingly, a 42-year-old male patient was found to have a GLA pathogenic variant affecting AGAL’s nucleophile residue (c.508G>T, p.D170H). In line with the predicted disruption of the active site, the patient presented with classic Fabry disease and a history of neuropathic pain and hypohidrosis. He progressed to end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis was started at age 39. Fabry disease was only diagnosed during the aforementioned nationwide screening program. His AGAL enzyme activity was low (1.38; normal limit > 1.89); lyso-Gb3 levels were not measured. Enzyme replacement therapy was not initiated. The patient died suddenly at the age of 47. No autopsy was performed. The patient had a brother, who was also diagnosed with Fabry disease (no additional information).
Of note, two cases of the p.N215S (p.Asn215Ser) variant were disclosed in this screening performed in end-stage renal disease patients. This could be a mere coincidence since hemizygosity for the GLA Ser215 allele is associated with a late-onset form of FD, invariably presenting with cardiac involvement. Cerebrovascular and kidney involvement has also occasionally been reported in some patients [34], but the pathogenic relationship between the incomplete α-galactosidase deficiency and the risk of stroke and of chronic kidney disease is not straightforward [34]. Indeed, the etiologic interpretation of the cerebrovascular and renal complications observed in a few of those patients, and their imputation to FD, is often confounded by the coexistence of major additional risk factors, including long-standing severe and/or inadequately controlled hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and tobacco smoking. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis could potentially help identify a second genetic kidney disease beside the late-onset FD associated with the p.N215S variant.

3.2. Pedigree Analysis

We investigated 659 family members from one to four generations per family (Table 2). The number of relatives at risk of Fabry disease per proband ranged from 1 to 26 (median: 7). Approximately half of all at-risk family members (331 out of 659) were tested for Fabry disease (AGAL activity in males only, and Lyso-Gb3 levels and genetic testing in males and females). The most common reason for lack of testing was poor communication between family members, many of whom were spread out over a large geographic area. Only 30 family members refused genetic testing for personal reasons.
Fabry disease was diagnosed in 165 (49.8%) of the 331 tested family members (51 males and 114 females) (Table 3). Thirty (18.2%) of the 165 newly diagnosed patients were under the age of 18. One hundred and seven patients were symptomatic. The mean ± standard deviation number of affected relatives per proband was 2.0 ± 0.2. Forty-two (25.5%) of the 165 diagnosed family members subsequently initiated enzyme replacement therapy.

4. Discussion

In the present study, the construction of family trees and subsequent testing enabled us to diagnose Fabry disease in almost half of the at-risk family members. The mean number of affected relatives was lower in Russia (n = 2 per proband) than in a US-based study [35] of 74 patients (n = 5 per proband). However, the number of relatives potentially at risk of Fabry disease per proband was relatively low in our study (median: 7), and so our results are not surprising. Family genetic testing was significantly more effective (49.8%) than screening programs in newborns [36] or patients with end-stage renal disease [18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,37,38], unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy [27,28,29,30,39], or stroke [31], which are costly and often have a diagnostic yield below 1% [32]. It is noteworthy that almost 20% of patients newly diagnosed with Fabry disease in this study were under the age of 18, and around 40% of patients were still asymptomatic.
The main barriers to family genetic testing include lack of interest from the physician, the financial cost of testing, and cultural and societal issues. Nevertheless, we were able to test 50.2% of the at-risk family members. The most common obstacle to screening was poor communication between family members, which was frequently related to the family’s geographic spread [33]. Only 4.6% of the family members refused genetic testing for other reasons. It is noteworthy that cost was not an issue in Russia; all tests were provided free of charge both for subjects and medical institutions, while the negative effect of poor infrastructure was minimized by effective logistics and the delivery of dried blood spots from any city to the central laboratory.
Our results suggest that awareness of Fabry disease among physicians is low in Russia. At present, around 250 patients with Fabry disease are registered in Russian reference centers, which would correspond to a prevalence in the general population of approximately 1 per 560,000; the actual prevalence is likely to be ten times or even a hundred times higher [40]. Moreover, almost half of probands were diagnosed with Fabry disease during the nationwide screening of dialysis units. Over 70% of the index patients had a history of early alerting signs and symptoms (i.e., from childhood or adolescence onwards), including neuropathic pain, angiokeratoma, and hypohidrosis/anhidrosis with the occasional occurrence of additional signs such as gastro-intestinal, ENT [41] or respiratory [42] involvement. In most cases, however, a diagnosis of Fabry disease was never considered—not even in patients with overt clinical features and similarly affected relatives. The median time interval between symptom onset and diagnosis was around 20 years for both males and females. It is noteworthy that the data from the Fabry Outcome Survey also suggested that the diagnostic delay for Fabry disease has not significantly fallen over the last decade, despite a trend towards earlier diagnosis in adults and children [43]. Strategies for increasing awareness of Fabry disease among pediatricians are particularly important, given that only three of the probands in this study were under the age of 18 [14].
In the present study, almost 40% of the affected relatives diagnosed with Fabry disease were still asymptomatic. Therefore, genetic testing of all at-risk family members (including males and females) should be encouraged [44]. Ideally, every patient newly diagnosed with Fabry disease should be referred to a medical geneticist for interpretation of the identified genetic variants and a detailed pedigree review [34,45]. However, the pedigree can also be drawn by any healthcare professional who is willing to spend time interviewing index patients and family members, in accordance with international guidelines [34].

5. Conclusions

Genetic testing using cascade genotyping in families of index patients identified through symptom presentation or through a screening program can greatly increase the number of patients diagnosed with Fabry disease and can thus facilitate diagnosis and treatment before irreversible organ damage is present.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, S.M., V.F. and D.P.G.; methodology, S.M. and D.P.G.; software, A.M.; validation, S.M., V.F. and D.P.G.; formal analysis, A.M.; investigation, E.T., A.M., N.B. and E.F.; writing—original draft preparation, S.M.; writing—review and editing, D.P.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of Sechenov University (24 January 2021).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Data Availability Statement

Data supporting reported results can be provided on request.

Conflicts of Interest

E.T., A.M., N.B., E.F. and V.F. declare no conflicts interest. S.M. received travel grants and lecture fees from Sanofi and Takeda. D.P.G. is a consultant for Idorsia, Sanofi, and Takeda.

References

  1. Eng, C.M.; Resnick-Silverman, L.A.; Niehaus, D.J.; Astrin, K.H.; Desnick, R.J. Nature and frequency of mutations in the alpha-galactosidase A gene that cause Fabry disease. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 1993, 53, 1186–1197. [Google Scholar]
  2. Germain, D.P.; Biasotto, M.; Tosi, M.; Meo, T.; Kahn, A.; Poenaru, L. Fluorescence-assisted mismatch analysis (FAMA) for exhaustive screening of the alpha-galactosidase A gene and detection of carriers in Fabry disease. Hum. Genet. 1996, 98, 719–726. [Google Scholar]
  3. Desnick, R.J.; Brady, R.; Barranger, J.; Collins, A.J.; Germain, D.P.; Goldman, M.; Grabowski, G.; Packman, S.; Wilcox, W.R. Fabry disease, an under-recognized multisystemic disorder: Expert recommendations for diagnosis, management, and enzyme replacement therapy. Ann. Intern. Med. 2003, 138, 338–346. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Germain, D.P. Fabry disease. Orphanet J. Rare Dis. 2010, 5, 30. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Ortiz, A.; Germain, D.P.; Desnick, R.J.; Politei, J.; Mauer, M.; Burlina, A.; Eng, C.; Hopkinh, R.J.; Laneyi, D.; Linhart, A.; et al. Fabry disease revisited: Management and treatment recommendations for adult patients. Mol. Genet. Metab. 2018, 123, 416–427. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Aerts, J.M.; Groener, J.E.; Kuiper, S.; Donker-Koopman, W.E.; Strijland, A.; Ottenhoff, R.; van Roomen, C.; Mirzaian, M.; Wijburg, F.A.; Linthorst, G.E.; et al. Elevated globotriaosylsphingosine is a hallmark of Fabry disease. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2008, 105, 2812–2817. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Politei, J.M.; Bouhassira, D.; Germain, D.P.; Goizet, C.; Guerrero-Sola, A.; Hilz, M.J.; Hutton, E.J.; Karaa, A.; Liguori, R.; Üçeyler, N.; et al. Pain in Fabry disease: Practical recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. CNS Neurosci. Ther. 2016, 22, 568–576. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Wanner, C.; Oliveira, J.; Ortiz, A.; Mauer, M.; Germain, D.P.; Linthorst, G.E.; Serra, A.L.; Maródi, L.; Mignani, R.; Cianciaruso, B.; et al. Prognostic indicators of renal disease progression in adults with Fabry disease: Natural history data from the Fabry Registry. Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 2010, 5, 2220–2228. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Linhart, A.; Germain, D.P.; Olivotto, I.; Akhtar, M.M.; Anastasakis, A.; Hughes, D.; Namdar, M.; Pieroni, M.; Hagège, A.; Cecchi, F.; et al. An expert consensus document on the management of cardiovascular manifestations of Fabry disease. Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2020, 22, 1076–1096. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Kolodny, E.; Fellgiebel, A.; Hilz, M.; Sims, K.; Caruso, P.; Phan, T.G.; Politei, J.; Manara, R.; Burlina, A. Cerebrovascular involvement in Fabry disease: Current status of knowledge. Stroke 2015, 46, 302–313. [Google Scholar]
  11. Demuth, K.; Germain, D.P. Endothelial markers and homocysteine in patients with classic Fabry disease. Acta Paediatr. 2002, 91, 57–61. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Echevarria, L.; Benistan, K.; Toussaint, A.; Dubourg, O.; Hagege, A.A.; Eladari, D.; Jabbour, F.; Beldjord, C.; de Mazancourt, P.; Germain, D.P. X-chromosome inactivation in female patients with Fabry disease. Clin. Genet. 2016, 89, 44–54. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  13. Germain, D.P.; Arad, M.; Burlina, A.; Elliott, P.M.; Falissard, B.; Feldt-Rasmussen, U.; Hilz, M.J.; Hughes, D.A.; Ortiz, A.; Wanner, C.; et al. The effect of enzyme replacement therapy on clinical outcomes in female patients with Fabry disease-A systematic literature review by a European panel of experts. Mol. Genet. Metab. 2019, 126, 224–235. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Germain, D.P.; Fouilhoux, A.; Decramer, S.; Tardieu, M.; Pillet, P.; Fila, M.; Rivera, S.; Deschênes, G.; Lacombe, D. Consensus recommendations for diagnosis, management and treatment of Fabry disease in paediatric patients. Clin. Genet. 2019, 96, 107–117. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Mehta, A.; Beck, M.; Eyskens, F.; Feliciani, C.; Kantola, I.; Ramaswami, U.; Rolfs, A.; Rivera, A.; Waldek, S.; Germain, D.P. Fabry disease: A review of current management strategies. QJM 2010, 103, 641–659. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Germain, D.P.; Hughes, D.A.; Nicholls, K.; Bichet, D.G.; Giugliani, R.; Wilcox, W.R.; Feliciani, C.; Shankar, S.P.; Ezgu, F.; Amartino, H.; et al. Treatment of Fabry’s Disease with the Pharmacologic Chaperone Migalastat. N. Engl. J. Med. 2016, 375, 545–555. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Wanner, C.; Arad, M.; Baron, R.; Burlina, A.; Elliott, P.M.; Feldt-Rasmussen, U.; Fomin, V.V.; Germain, D.P.; Hughes, D.A.; Jovanovic, A.; et al. European expert consensus statement on therapeutic goals in Fabry disease. Mol. Genet. Metab. 2018, 124, 189–203. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Lin, C.J.; Chien, Y.H.; Lai, T.S.; Shih, H.M.; Chen, Y.C.; Pan, C.F.; Chen, H.H.; Hwu, W.L.; Wu, C.J. Results of Fabry disease screening in male pre-end stage renal disease patients with unknown etiology found through the Platform of a Chronic Kidney Disease Education Program in a Northern Taiwan Medical Center. Kidney Blood Press. Res. 2018, 43, 1636–1645. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Lv, Y.L.; Wang, W.M.; Pan, X.X.; Wang, Z.H.; Chen, N.; Ye, Z.Y.; Xu, J. A successful screening for Fabry disease in a Chinese dialysis patient population. Clin. Genet. 2009, 76, 219–221. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Merta, M.; Reiterova, J.; Ledvinova, J.; Poupetová, H.; Dobrovolny, R.; Rysavá, R.; Maixnerová, D.; Bultas, J.; Motáň, J.; Slivkova, J.; et al. A nationwide blood spot screening study for Fabry disease in the Czech Republic haemodialysis patient population. Nephrol. Dial. Transpl. 2007, 22, 179–186. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Nakao, S.; Kodama, C.; Takenaka, T.; Tanaka, A.; Yasumoto, Y.; Yoshida, A.; Kanzaki, T.; Enriquez, A.L.D.; Eng, C.M.; Tanaka, H.; et al. Fabry disease: Detection of undiagnosed hemodialysis patients and identification of a “renal variant” phenotype. Kidney Int. 2003, 64, 801–807. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  22. Okur, I.; Ezgu, F.; Biberoglu, G.; Tumer, L.; Erten, Y.; Isitman, M.; Eminoglua, F.T.; Hasanoglua, A. Screening for Fabry disease in patients undergoing dialysis for chronic renal failure in Turkey: Identification of new case with novel mutation. Gene 2013, 527, 42–47. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Silva, C.A.; Barreto, F.C.; Dos Reis, M.A.; Moura Junior, J.A.; Cruz, C.M. Targeted screening of Fabry disease in male hemodialysis patients in Brazil highlights importance of family screening. Nephron 2016, 134, 221–230. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Moiseev, S.; Fomin, V.; Savostyanov, K.; Pushkov, A.; Moiseev, A.; Svistunov, A.; Namazova-Baranova, L. The prevalence and clinical features of Fabry disease in hemodialysis patients: Russian Nationwide Fabry Dialysis Screening Program. Nephron 2019, 141, 249–255. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Turkmen, K.; Guclu, A.; Sahin, G.; Kocyigit, I.; Demirtas, L.; Erdur, F.M.; Sengül, E.; Ozkan, O.; Emre, H.; Turgut, F.; et al. The prevalence of Fabry disease in patients with chronic kidney disease in Turkey: The TURKFAB Study. Kidney Blood Press. Res. 2016, 41, 1016–1024. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Veloso, V.S.P.; Ataides, T.L.; Canziani, M.E.F.; Veloso, M.P.; da Silva, N.A.; Barreto, D.V.; Pereira, E.R.S.; de Moura, L.A.R.; Barreto, F.C. A novel missense GLA mutation (p.G35V) detected in hemodialysis screening leads to severe systemic manifestations of Fabry disease in men and women. Nephron 2018, 138, 147–156. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Adalsteinsdottir, B.; Palsson, R.; Desnick, R.J.; Gardarsdottir, M.; Teekakirikul, P.; Maron, M.; Appelbaum, E.; Neisius, U.; Maron, B.J.; Burke, M.A. Fabry disease in families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Clinical manifestations in the classic and later-onset phenotypes.; et al. Circ. Cardiovasc. Genet. 2017, 10, e001639. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Hagège, A.A.; Caudron, E.; Damy, T.; Roudaut, R.; Millaire, A.; Etchecopar-Chevreuil, C.; Tran, T.; Jabbour, F.; Boucly, C.; Prognon, P.; et al. FOCUS study investigators. Screening patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy for Fabry disease using a filter-paper test: The FOCUS study. Heart 2011, 97, 131–136. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Maron, M.S.; Xin, W.; Sims, K.B.; Butler, R.; Haas, T.S.; Rowin, E.J.; Desnick, R.J.; Maron, B.J. Identification of Fabry disease in a tertiary referral cohort of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Am. J. Med. 2018, 131, e1–e200. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Moiseev, S.; Karovaikina, E.; Moiseev, A.; Bulanov, N.; Fomin, V. Strategies of screening for Fabry disease in patients with unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy. Mayo Clin. Proc. 2019, 94, 1644–1646. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. De Brabander, I.; Yperzeele, L.; Ceuterick-De Groote, C.; Brouns, R.; Baker, R.; Belachew, S.; Delbecq, J.; de Keulenaer, G.; Dethy, S.; Eyskens, F.; et al. Phenotypical characterization of α-galactosidase A gene mutations identified in a large Fabry disease screening program in stroke in the young. Clin. Neurol. Neurosurg. 2013, 115, 1088–1093. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  32. Doheny, D.; Srinivasan, R.; Pagant, S.; Chen, B.; Yasuda, M.; Desnick, R.J. Fabry Disease: Prevalence of affected males and heterozygotes with pathogenic GLA mutations identified by screening renal, cardiac and stroke clinics, 1995–2017. J. Med. Genet. 2018, 55, 261–268. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Germain, D.P.; Moiseev, S.; Suárez-Obando, F.; Al Ismaili, F.; Al Khawaja, H.; Altarescu, G.; Barreto, F.C.; Haddoum, F.; Hadipour, F.; Maksimova, I.; et al. The benefits and challenges of family screening in rare genetic diseases–lessons from Fabry disease. Mol. Genet. Genom. Med. 2021, 9, e1666. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Germain, D.P.; Brand, E.; Burlina, A.; Cecchi, F.; Garman, S.C.; Kempf, J.; Laney, D.A.; Linhart, A.; Maródi, L.; Nicholls, K.; et al. Phenotypic characteristics of the p.Asn215Ser (p.N215S) GLA mutation in male and female patients with Fabry disease: A multicenter Fabry Registry study. Mol. Genet. Genom. Med. 2018, 6, 492–503. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Laney, D.A.; Fernhoff, P.M. Diagnosis of Fabry disease via analysis of family history. J. Genet. Couns. 2008, 17, 79–83. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Gragnaniello, V.; Burlina, A.P.; Polo, G.; Giuliani, A.; Salviati, L.; Duro, G.; Cazzorla, C.; Rubert, L.; Maines, E.; Germain, D.P.; et al. Newborn Screening for Fabry Disease in Northeastern Italy: Results of Five Years of Experience. Biomolecules 2021, 11, 951. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Vigneau, C.; Germain, D.P.; Larmet, D.; Jabour, F.; Hourmant, M.; SNOUFY Investigators Group. Screeninf for Fabry disease in male patients with end-stage renal disease in Western France. Nephrol. Ther. 2021, 17, 180–184. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Frabasil, J.; Durand, C.; Sokn, S.; Gaggioli, D.; Carozza, P.; Carabajal, R.; Politei, J.; Schenone, A.B. Prevalence of Fabry disease in male dialysis patients: Argentinean screening study. JIMD Rep. 2019, 48, 45–52. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Sachdev, B.; Takenaka, T.; Teraguchi, H.; Tei, C.; Lee, P.; McKenna, W.J.; Elliott, P.M. Prevalence of Anderson-Fabry disease in male patients with late onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Circulation 2002, 105, 1407–1411. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  40. Spada, M.; Pagliardini, S.; Yasuda, M.; Tukel, T.; Thiagarajan, G.; Sakuraba, H.; Ponzonea, A.; Desnick, R.J. High incidence of later-onset Fabry disease revealed by newborn screening. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 2006, 79, 31–40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  41. Germain, D.P.; Avan, P.; Chassaing, A.; Bonfils, P. Patients affected with Fabry disease have an increased incidence of progressive hearing loss and sudden deafness: An investigation of twenty-two hemizygous male patients. BMC Med. Genet. 2002, 3, 10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  42. Magage, S.; Lubanda, J.C.; Susa, Z.; Bultas, J.; Karetova, D.; Dobrovolny, R.; Hrebıcek, M.; Germain, D.P.; Linhart, A. Natural history of the respiratory involvement in Anderson-Fabry disease. J. Inherit. Metab. Dis. 2007, 30, 790–799. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  43. Reisin, R.; Perrin, A.; García-Pavía, P. Time delays in the diagnosis and treatment of Fabry disease. Int. J. Clin. Pract. 2017, 71, e12914. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  44. Germain, D.P.; Poenaru, L. Fabry disease: Identification of novel α-galactosidase A mutations and molecular carrier detection by use of fluorescent chemical cleavage of mismatches. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1999, 257, 708–713. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  45. Rozenfeld, P.A.; Masllorens, F.M.; Roa, N.; Rodriguez, F.; Bonnano, M.; Yvorra, C.; Ceci, R. Fabry pedigree analysis: A successful program for targeted genetic approach. Mol. Genet. Genom. Med. 2019, 7, e00794. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the 83 probands with Fabry disease.
Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the 83 probands with Fabry disease.
ParametersMales (n = 72)Females (n = 11)p
Age, years37 [30.5;47.5]38 [31;64]0.33
Age at symptom onset, years10 [6;14]12 [9;14]<0.01
Age at diagnosis, years33 [27;45]31 [26;41]0.38
Diagnostic delay, years21 [13;32]21 [19;28]0.05
Early manifestations, n (%)
Neuropathic pain51 (70.8)7 (63.6)0.43
Angiokeratoma35 (48.6)3 (27.3)0.16
Anhidrosis/hypohidrosis47 (65.3)3 (27.3)0.02
Gastrointestinal disorders19 (26.4)00.05
Renal involvement, n (%)
Albuminuria/proteinuria62 (86.1)9 (81.8)0.49
eGFR 15–60 mL/min/1.73 m24 (5.6)2 (18.2)0.18
End-stage renal disease38 (52.8)1 (9.1)0.01
Dialysis35 (48.6)1 (9.1)0.01
Kidney transplantation3 (4.2)00.65
Cardiac involvement, n (%)
LVH (echocardiography and/or MRI)52 (72.2)3 (27.3)0.01
Clinically significant arrythmias8 (11.1)2 (18.2)0.39
Cerebrovascular disease, n (%)
White matter lesions on MRI36/61 (59.0)3 (27.3)0.05
Stroke17 (23.6)1 (9.1)0.26
Ophthalmological signs, n (%)
Cornea verticillata36/51 (70.6)6 (75.0)0.25
Cataract10/51 (19.6)1 (9.1)0.37
Pathogenic variants, n (%)
Missense43 (59.7)2 (18.2)0.01
Nonsense11 (15.2)4 (36.4)0.11
Other18 (25.0)5 (27.3)0.15
Low or absent AGAL activity, n (%)64/64 (100.0)4/10 (40.0)<0.01
Median lyso-GL3, ng/mL1017.20.05
Death, n (%)11 (15.3)00.19
Age (in years) is quoted as the median [IQR]; AGAL = α-galactosidase; eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate; LVH = left ventricular hypertrophy.
Table 2. Pedigree analysis in 83 probands with Fabry disease.
Table 2. Pedigree analysis in 83 probands with Fabry disease.
ParametersValues
Total number of family members659
Median (range) number of relatives per family7 (1–26)
Tested for Fabry disease, n (%)331 (50.3)
Not tested for Fabry disease, n (%):328 (49.7)
Poor communication between family members234
Refused genetic testing30
Testing is pending64
Diagnosed with Fabry disease, n (%):165 (49.8)
Males51
Females114
Children (age < 18)30
Symptomatic107
Mean ± standard deviation number of affected relatives per proband2.0 ± 0.2
Table 3. List of GLA pathogenic variants identified in Russian patients diagnosed with Fabry disease (n = 97 males and 195 females).
Table 3. List of GLA pathogenic variants identified in Russian patients diagnosed with Fabry disease (n = 97 males and 195 females).
Proband n°GenderAge of DiagnosisA-GAL ActivityPathogenic GLA VariantTested Relatives
(N)
Diagnosed
Relatives
(n)
cDNA ChangesProtein ChangesTypeConsequenceActive Site
Residue *
CLINVAR ID
One Letter CodeThree Letter Code
  •  
Female26-c.679C>Tp.R227*p.Arg227TerSNVNonsense-1073322
2.
 
Female35-c.679C>Tp.R227*p.Arg227TerSNVNonsense-1073333
3.
 
Female41-c.680G>Ap.R227Qp.Arg227GlnSNVMissenseYes1073294
4.
 
Female31-c.946delGp.V316*p.Val316TerSmall deletionStop codon-NR11
5.
 
Female58-c.101A>Gp.N34Sp.Asn34SerSNVMissense-1072432
6.
 
Female28-c.658C>Tp.R220*p.Arg220TerSNVNonsenseNo167140145
7.
 
Female22-c.334C>Tp.R112Cp.Arg112CysSNVMissenseNo9255044
8.
 
Female26-c.901C>Tp.R301*p.Arg301TerSNVNonsense-9257070
9.
 
Female67-c.1287_1288dupp.*430fs-DuplicationFrameshiftNoNR10
10.
 
Female64-c.375delCp.H125Qfs*5p.His125Glnfs*5Small deletionFrameshift-NR00
11.
 
Female66-c.1000-1G>A--Consensus Splice Site MutationUnknown-222111124
12.
 
Male49c.901C>Tp.R301*p.Arg301TerSNVNonsense-9257030
13.
 
Male44↓↓c.337delTp.F113Ffs*17p.Phel113fs*17Small deletionFrameshift-NR00
14.
 
Male49c.161T>Cp.L54Pp.Leu54ProSNVMissenseNoNR22
15.
 
Male30↓↓c.723dupTp.S241Yfs*8p.Ser241Tyrfs*8Small insertionFrameshift-22237353
16.
 
Male33c.658C>Tp.R220*p.Arg220TerSNVNonsense-16714070
17.
 
Male36↓↓c.496C>Gp.L166Vp.Leu166ValSNVMissenseNoNR30
18.
 
Male44↓↓c.612G>Cp.W204Cp.Trp204CysSNVMissenseNoNR00
19.
 
Male42c.644A>Gp.N215Sp.Asn215SerSNVMissenseNo1073054
20.
 
Male45↓↓c.19G>Tp.E7*p.Glu7TerSNVNonsense-9254711
21.
 
Male31c.1166C>Tp.P389Lp.Pro389LeuSNVMissenseNoNR11
22.
 
Male49c.982G>Cp.G328Rp.Gly328ArgSNVMissenseNo19805300
23.
 
Male52c.166T>Ap.C56Sp.Cys56SerSNVMissenseNoNR11
24.
 
Male23c.36C>Ap.C12*p.Cys12TerSNVNonsense-132300400
25.
 
Male33↓↓-p.Y134Rp.Tyr134Arg MissenseYesNR21
26.
 
Male42c.508G>Cp.D170Hp.Asp170HisSNVMissenseYes (Nucleophile)NR21
27.
 
Male49↓↓c.547G>Ap.G183Sp.Gly183SerSNVMissenseNo22228111
28.
 
Male37↓↓c.717A>Gp.I239Mp.Ile239MetSNVMissenseNo925251123
29.
 
Male18NDc.128G>Tp.G43Vp.Gly43ValSNVMissenseNo92895492
30.
 
Male31NDc.1056C>Tp.Q386*p.Gln386TerSNVNonsense-NR77
31.
 
Male31↓↓c.127G>Ap.G43Sp.Gly43SerSNVMissenseNo29074233
32.
 
Male29c.818T>Cp.F273Sp.Phe273SerSNVMissenseNo22242560
33.
 
Male30↓↓c.370_377delp.V124Qfs*14p.Val124Glnfs*14Small deletionFrameshift-NR41
34.
 
Male26↓↓c.548-2A>G--Consensus Splice site MutationUnknown-92554115
35.
 
Male16NDc.1085_1098del14p.P362Hfs*8p.Pro362Hisfs*8Small deletionFrameshift-NR71
36.
 
Male38↓↓c.422C>Tp.T141Ip.Thr141IleSNVMissenseNo28557022
37.
 
Male29↓↓c.550T>Gp.Y184Dp.Tyr184AspSNVMissenseNo99794466
38.
 
Male14↓↓c.539_547del9insCp.L180_G183del9insCp.Leu180_Glydel9insCSmall deletion/small insertionFrameshift-NR62
39.
 
Male48↓↓c.145C>Gp.R49Gp.Arg49GlySNVMissense-NR11
40.
 
Male18↓↓c.513A>Gp.K168Rp.Lys168ArgSNVMissenseYesNR41
41.
 
Male12↓↓c.1163T>Ap.L388Hp.Leu388HisSNVMissenseNoNR41
42.
 
Male30↓↓c.902G>Tp.R301Lp.Arg301LeuSNVMissenseNoNR75
43.
 
Male48↓↓c.493G>Tp.D165Yp.Asp165TyrSNVMissenseNoNR30
44.
 
Male52↓↓c.203T>Cp.L68Pp.Leu68ProSNVMissenseNoNR70
45.
 
Male53↓↓c.334C>Tp.R112Cp.Arg112CysSNVMissenseNo9255044
46.
 
Male7NDc.782G>Tp.G261Vp.Gly261ValSNVMissenseNo22238733
47.
 
Male27↓↓c.161T>Cp.L54Pp.Leu54ProSNVMissenseNoNR110
48.
 
Male15↓↓c.334C>Tp.R112Cp.Arg112CysSNVMissenseNo9255020
49.
 
Male21↓↓c.844A>Cp.T282Pp.Thr282ProSNVMissenseNoNR42
50.
 
Male54↓↓c.109G>Ap.A37Tp.Ala37ThrSNVMissenseNo132447020
51.
 
Male31↓↓c.847C>Tp.Q283*p.Gln283TerSNVNonsense-18084393
52.
 
Male30↓↓c.1277_1278delAAp.K426Rfs*p.Lys426Argfs*Small deletionFrameshift-1077232
53.
 
Male42c.679C>Tp.R227*p.Arg227TerSNVNonsense-1073330
54.
 
Male42↓↓c.1197G>Ap.W399*p.Trp399TerSNVNonsense-NR21
55.
 
Male48↓↓c.1021G>Ap.E341Kp.Glu341LysSNVMissenseNo222125149
56.
 
Male30NDc.444T>Gp.S148Rp.Ser148ArgSNVMissenseNo63325175
57.
 
Male?↓↓c.572T>Ap.L191Qp.Leu191GlnSNVMissenseNoNR0?0?
58.
 
Male52↓↓c.1072_1074delGAGp.E358delp.Glu358delSmall in frame deletionUnknown-18084410
59.
 
Male31↓↓c.442_450delAGTTTTGGAp.S148_G150delp.Ser148_Gly150delSmall in frame deletionUnknown-NR85
60.
 
Male19↓↓c.804A>Cp.L268Fp.Leu268PheSNVMissenseNoNR11
61.
 
Male51c.717A>Gp.I239Mp.Ile239MetSNVMissenseNo92525121
62.
 
Male50c.758T>Cp.I253Tp.Ile253ThrSNVMissenseNo18002121
63.
 
Male36↓↓c.1133G>Ap.C378Yp.Cys378TyrSNVMissenseNoNR1712
64.
 
Male31c.786delGp.W262*p.Trp262TerSmall deletionStop codon-NR33
65.
 
Male15↓↓c.521G>Ap.C174Yp.Cys174TyrSNVMissenseNoNR43
66.
 
Male32NDc.227T>Cp.M76Tp.Met76ThrSNVMissenseNoNR54
67.
 
Male41c.1025G>Ap.R342Qp.Arg342GlnSNVMissenseNo1074251
68.
 
Male54↓↓c.658C>Tp.R220*p.Arg220TerSNVNonsense-16714022
69.
 
Male20c.949delp.A350Vfs*2p.Ala350Valfs*2Small deletionFrameshift-NR33
70.
 
Male20↓↓c.658C>Tp.R220*p.Arg220TerSNVNonsense-16714030
71.
 
Male43↓↓c.901C>Tp.R301*p.Arg301TerSNVNonsense-9257011
72.
 
Male38↓↓c.1049delCp.A350Vfs*2p.Ala350Valfs*2Small deletionFrameshift-9253822
73.
 
Male24↓↓c.1033_1034delp.S345Rfs*29p.Ser345Argfs*29Small deletionFrameshift-9253800
74.
 
Male48↓↓c.983G>Cp.G328Ap.Gly328AlaSNVMissense-1074011
75.
 
Male46↓↓c.644A>Gp.N215Sp.Asn215SerSNVMissenseNo1073011
76.
 
Male39↓↓c.869T>Cp.M290Tp.Met290ThrSNVMissenseNo68485513
77.
 
Male30↓↓c.551A>Gp.Y184Cp.Tyr184CysSNVMissenseNoNR22
78.
 
Male28↓↓c.614C>Gp.P205Rp.Pro205ArgSNVMissenseNoNR11
79.
 
Male17NDc.44C>Ap.A15Ep.Ala15GluSNVMissenseNoNR11
80.
 
Male57↓↓c.269G>Ap.C90Yp.Cys90TyrSNVMissenseNoNR22
81.
 
Male15NDc.680G>Ap.R227Qp.Arg227GlnSNVMissenseYes1073264
82.
 
Male34↓↓c.671A>Gp.N224Sp.Asn224SerSNVMissenseNo22236532
83.
 
Male25c.269G>Ap.C90Yp.Cys90TyrSNVMissenseNoNR20
* For Missense variant only. ND: not done, ↓: significantly below cut-off level, ↓↓: zero or close to zero. NR = not reported.
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Moiseev, S.; Tao, E.; Moiseev, A.; Bulanov, N.; Filatova, E.; Fomin, V.; Germain, D.P. The Benefits of Family Screening in Rare Diseases: Genetic Testing Reveals 165 New Cases of Fabry Disease among At-Risk Family Members of 83 Index Patients. Genes 2022, 13, 1619. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13091619

AMA Style

Moiseev S, Tao E, Moiseev A, Bulanov N, Filatova E, Fomin V, Germain DP. The Benefits of Family Screening in Rare Diseases: Genetic Testing Reveals 165 New Cases of Fabry Disease among At-Risk Family Members of 83 Index Patients. Genes. 2022; 13(9):1619. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13091619

Chicago/Turabian Style

Moiseev, Sergey, Ekaterina Tao, Alexey Moiseev, Nikolay Bulanov, Ekaterina Filatova, Victor Fomin, and Dominique P. Germain. 2022. "The Benefits of Family Screening in Rare Diseases: Genetic Testing Reveals 165 New Cases of Fabry Disease among At-Risk Family Members of 83 Index Patients" Genes 13, no. 9: 1619. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13091619

APA Style

Moiseev, S., Tao, E., Moiseev, A., Bulanov, N., Filatova, E., Fomin, V., & Germain, D. P. (2022). The Benefits of Family Screening in Rare Diseases: Genetic Testing Reveals 165 New Cases of Fabry Disease among At-Risk Family Members of 83 Index Patients. Genes, 13(9), 1619. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13091619

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop