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Can we use statins to prevent stroke in Fabry disease?

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Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease

Summary

Fabry disease is a rare, X-linked lysosomal storage disease caused by an inborn deficiency of α-galactosidase A, which results in the progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide and other neutral glycolipids in a range of cells and tissues. In association with the renal and cardiac insufficiency, cerebrovascular complications can result in the death of the patients. Several mechanisms causing vascular damage that leads to the development of deep-white matter lesions have been described. Recent clinical trials strongly suggest that statins protect against stroke by neuroprotective properties or pleiotropic effects. Aim: To evaluate evidence and potential beneficial effects of statins in the vasculopathy of Fabry disease.

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Abbreviations

ERT:

enzyme replacement therapy

FD:

Fabry disease

Gb3 :

globotriaosylceramide

Gla:

α-galactosidase A

HMG-CoA:

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A

ICAM-1:

intercellular adhesion molecule-1

IMT:

intima-media thickness

NOS:

nitric oxide synthase

PAI-1:

plasminogen activator inhibitor-1

VCAM-1:

vascular cell adhesion molecule-1

WML:

white-matter lesion

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Correspondence to J. M. Politei.

Additional information

Communicating editor: Frits Wijburg

Competing interests: None declared

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Politei, J.M. Can we use statins to prevent stroke in Fabry disease?. J Inherit Metab Dis 32, 481–487 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10545-009-1156-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10545-009-1156-2

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