P0073EVALUATION OF BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL AMONG PATIENTS WITH ANDERSON-FABRY DISEASE
Authors: Rossi Federica , Auricchio Sara , Binaggia Agnese , Roggero Letizia , Pieruzzi Federico 
Published: June 2020

Background and Aims

Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) is a rare X-linked sphingolipid disorder caused by deficient activity of the enzyme α-galactosidase A leading to a progressive lysosomal accumulation of globotriaosylceramide and a consequent organ failure. Data on blood pressure (BP) values in AFD patients are scanty, however those available have revealed a significant prevalence of high blood pressure, especially in case of moderate to severe kidney impairment, becoming more prevalent with the progression of the renal disease.

High blood pressure and hypertension major risk factors prevalence were analysed among a single Fabry cohort.

Method

Between January 2015 and May 2019, 32 AFD patients, 24 (75%) female and 8 (25%) male, referred to the Fabry Disease Unit, Nephrology Division of San Gerardo Hospital (Monza, Italy), were enrolled. All patients were Caucasian with an average age of 50±12.2 years old.

Data regarding hypertension were obtained by 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), home self-monitoring, and repeated ambulatory measurements (Table 1). Patients were defined hypertensive according to 2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines. The severity and the stability of AFD were assessed in each patient with the Fabry Stabilization Index (FASTEX). Major risk factors for hypertension were also evaluated (Table 2).

Results

The 24h ABPM revealed uncontrolled high blood pressure in 6 (18.7%) patients with consensual home and office BP alterations. All patients were female with an average age of 58±9.9 years old. They had mostly a sedentary life-style, half of them had a diagnosis of dyslipidaemia and one was obese (BMI &gt; 30). In the normotensive group, half of the patients were sedentary, less than a half of them was affected by dyslipidaemia and the average BMI was between the normal ranges. Other known risk factors for hypertension were scanty represented between the two groups. No one had history of transient ischemic attack or stroke. In the normotensive group the majority of patients had a normal or near-normal renal function, while in the hypertensive group one-third showed mild proteinuria and renal impairment with a moderate reduction in glomerular filtration rate. The FASTEX index showed that 84.6% of the normotensive group were stable, while 66.6% of the hypertensive group were not. In 9 (34.6%) patients of the normotensive group ACE-inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers were previously introduced for the treatment of proteinuria in normal blood pressure values, while 2 (33.3%) patients of the hypertensive group received antihypertensive drugs.

Conclusion

In this observational study, the majority of AFD patients were normotensive. The prevalence of hypertensive patients was lower than 20%. Overall patients had a low prevalence of well-known risk factors associated with the development of hypertension.

The link between AFD disease and the development of hypertension has not been fully studied yet. Hypertension in AFD patients might be due to Fabry associated vascular or renal disease or because of an associated essential hypertension.

Arterial blood pressure seems to be relatively well controlled among AFD patients presenting with a low prevalence of risk factors for hypertension and a mild and stable organ involvement. In contrast, unstable patients with a high prevalence of well-known hypertension risk factors, particularly renal impairment, should be followed carefully, because they have a major risk of developing uncontrolled blood pressure.

Further prospective studies with a larger sample size are needed to better investigate the pathophysiology of hypertension in AFD patients.