Screening of Fabry disease in patients with end-stage renal disease of unknown etiology: The first Thailand study

• Main Authors: Objoon Trachoo, Paisan Jittorntam, Sarunpong Pibalyart, Saowanee Kajanachumphol, Norasak Suvachittanont, Suthep Patputthipong, Piyatida Chuengsaman, Arkom Nongnuch
• Other Authors: Mahidol University
• Format: Article
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/42022

© 2017 by the Journal of Biomedical Research. All rights reserved. We aimed to explore the prevalence of Fabry disease in Thai patients who were diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) of an unknown origin. Venous blood samples were collected from ESRD patients for biochemical and molecular studies. Alpha-galactosidase A (α-GAL A) screening was performed from dried-blood spots using fluorometry. Molecular confirmation was performed using DNA sequencing of the GLA gene. A total of 142 male and female patients were included in this study. Ten patients (7.04%) exhibited a significant decrease in α-GAL A activity. There were no definitive pathogenic mutations observed in the molecular study. However, four patients revealed a novel nucleotide variant at c.1 -10 C > T, which was identified as a benign variant following screening in the normal population. In conclusion, the α-GAL A assay utilizing dried-blood spots revealed a significant false positive rate. There was no definitive Fabry disease confirmed in Thai patients diagnosed with ESRD of unknown etiology.