Impaired myocardial perfusion reserve but preserved peripheral endothelial function in patients with Fabry disease

Fabry disease (McKusick 301500) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder due to deficient alpha-galactosidase A activity, which leads to accumulation of glycosphingolipids, especially in vascular smooth-muscle and endothelial cells. The effect of this accumulation on peripheral and cardiac vascular function is poorly known. We studied 15 Fabry patients (mean age 35 years and mean BMI 24.8 kg/m(2)) and 30 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls to examine whether myocardial perfusion reserve and peripheral artery endothelial function are altered. Myocardial perfusion was measured at rest and during dipyridamole-induced hyperaemia by positron emission tomography and (H2O)-O-15. Myocardial blood flow reserve was calculated as the ratio between the dipyridamole-induced maximal blood flow and resting blood flow. Peripheral artery endothelial function was assessed by measuring the brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation using ultrasound at rest and during reactive hyperaemia. The myocardial perfusion reserve was significantly lower in Fabry patients than in controls (3.3 +/- 1.2 vs 4.4 +/- 1.6, p=0.02), while the brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation was similar (5.9%+/- 3.9% vs 4.5%+/- 3.6%, p=0.27). Thus, in Fabry disease, myocardial perfusion reserve is reduced while the peripheral artery endothelial function is preserved.