Identification of a novel mutation and prevalence study for fabry disease in Japanese dialysis patients

Fabry disease--a genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in cell lysosomes resulting from an X-linked deficiency of α-galactosidase A activity--presents with multiorgan manifestations, including progressive renal disease. Recently, its prevalence has been reported to be higher in hemodialysis (HD) patients than in the general population. We, therefore, examined patients on maintenance dialysis living in the Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, to clarify the prevalence of Fabry disease. We screened 933 patients on maintenance dialysis, who were residents of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan, for α-galactosidase A activity using a dried blood spot on filter paper. Patients with low α-galactosidase A activity were clinically assessed; subsequently, genetic analysis of the α-Galactosidase A gene (MIM:30064) was performed in these patients. Of the 933 patients, 55 had low α-galactosidase A activity; of these, one male and two females had α-Galactosidase A mutations. The prevalence of Fabry disease was thus 0.32%, which was similar to that reported previously. However, one mutation was newly identified, while the E66Q mutation observed in two patients was as previously identified. These two patients with the E66Q mutation were excluded because of the possibility of polymorphism; the prevalence of Fabry disease in the HD population was finally calculated to be 0.11%. The prevalence of Fabry disease in patients on maintenance dialysis living in Nagasaki Prefecture was 0.32%. Dried blood spot screening was considered as a simple and effective method for screening patients on maintenance dialysis for Fabry disease.