[Ophthalmological manifestations in Fabry's disease. Four clinical cases showing deficient alpha-galactosidase-A activity]. / Manifestaciones oftalmológicas en la enfermedad de Fabry. A propósito de 4 casos con actividad deficiente de a-galactosidasa A.

CASE REPORT: Fabry's disease is an illness produced by an alteration in the catabolism of the glycosphingolipids. We report ophthalmologic findings in 4 people, detected after 113 patient evaluations from an analytical, cardiological and genetic point of view. DISCUSSION: Fabry's disease is uncommon and shows variable ophthalmologic affectation. Some patients with Fabry's disease do not present ocular affectation, while, on the other hand, healthy carriers with important ocular alterations have been described. The deposit of glycosphingolipids produces affectation at the corneal, crystalline, vascular and retinal levels. The vascular alterations affect not only the veins but also the arteries, as we report in our patients.

Manifestaciones oftalmológicas en la enfermedad de Fabry. A propósito de 4 casos con actividad deficiente de alfa-galactosidasa A / Ophthalmological manifestations in Fabry´s disease. Four clinical cases showing deficient alpha-galactosidase-A activity

Caso clínico: La enfermedad de Fabry es una enfermedad producida por una alteración en el catabolismo de los glucoesfingolípidos. Se muestran las alteraciones oftalmológicas de cuatro pacientes detectados tras evaluar desde el punto de vista analítico, cardiológico y genético a 113 enfermos. Discusión: La enfermedad de Fabry es una enfermedad infrecuente con afectación oftalmológica inconstante existiendo enfermos con Fabry sin afectación ocular y portadores sanos, con importantes alteraciones oculares. El depósito de glucoesfingolípidos produce afectación a nivel corneal, cristaliniano, vascular y retiniano. Las alteraciones vasculares afectan no sólo a las venas sino también a las arterias como mostramos en nuestros pacientes

Case report: Fabrys disease is an illness produced by an alteration in the catabolism of the glycosphingolipids. We report ophthalmologic findings in 4 people, detected after 113 patient evaluations from an analytical, cardiological and genetic point of view. Discussion: Fabry’s disease is uncommon and shows variable ophthalmologic affectation. Some patients with Fabry’s disease do not present ocular affectation, while, on the other hand, healthy carriers with important ocular alterations have been described. The deposit of glycosphingolipids produces affectation at the corneal, crystalline, vascular and retinal levels. The vascular alterations affect not only the veins but also the arteries, as we report in our patients (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2008; 83: 713-718)