Fabry Disease
Over time, the accumulation of GL-3 in the blood vessels of the kidneys
causes problems with kidney function and may eventually lead to kidney
failure. Kidney problems may be accompanied by hypertension (high blood
pressure). People with a mild loss of kidney function may be helped
with a low-salt, low-protein diet. Severe kidney problems or kidney
failure can be treated with dialysis (a procedure that performs the
kidneys' job of removing waste products from the blood) or transplantation
(surgery to replace one or both kidneys). Kidney failure is the most
common cause of death in Fabry disease.
Kidney function can be monitored with periodic testing of the blood (creatinine
measurement) and the urine (urinalysis). People with kidney problems often
have a high creatinine level in their blood and/or protein or blood in
their urine. In addition, people with Fabry disease may have clusters
of fat in their urine, called Maltese crosses because of their shape.
Hypertension can be monitored with periodic blood pressure checks.
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