Clinical and Genetic Investigation of a Japanese Family With Cardiac Fabry Disease Identification of a Novel α-Galactosidase A Missense Mutation (G195V)

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations of the alpha-galactosidase A gene (GLA), and the disease is a relatively prevalent cause of left ventricular hypertrophy mimicking idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We assessed clinically 5 patients of a three-generation family and also searched for GLA mutations in 10 family members. The proband had left ventricular hypertrophy with localized thinning in the basal posterior wall and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the near-circumferential wall in cardiovascular magnetic resonance images and her sister had vasospastic angina pectoris without organic stenosis of the coronary arteries. LGE notably appeared in parallel with decreased alpha-galactosidase A activity and increased NT-pro BNP in our patients. We detected a new GLA missense mutation (G195V) in exon 4, resulting in a glycine-to-valine substitution. Of the 10 family members, 5 family members each were positive and negative for this mutation. These new data extend our clinical and molecular knowledge of GLA gene mutations and confirm that a novel missense mutation in the GLA gene is important not only for a precise diagnosis of heterozygous status, but also for confirming relatives who are negative for this mutation. (Int Heart J 2011; 52: 308-311)