Background: Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder due to α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) deficiency. Clinical onset of Fabry disease is preceded by significant storage of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and related glycosphingolipids, but the extent of the metabolic progression before symptoms is unknown. Using a newly recognized effector and marker of Fabry disease, globotriaosylsphingosine (LysoGb3), we aimed to provide a metabolic picture of classic Fabry disease from the neonatal period to childhood.

Methods: LysoGb3 was assessed at different times in two brothers with classic Fabry disease (genotype c. 370–2
A > G). The firstborn was diagnosed after clinical onset at 11 years of age, whereas the second-born was diagnosed
in the neonatal period. LysoGb3 was measured in dried blood spots by high-sensitive electrospray ionization liquid
chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Results: Blood LysoGb3 concentrations were consistent with patients’ age and clinical picture, with lower levels in
the asymptomatic neonate (19.1 ng/ml) and higher levels in the symptomatic child (94.3 ng/ml). In the secondborn,
LysoGb3 doubled during the first 5 months of life (37.4 ng/ml), reaching ~40% concentration observed in the
symptomatic period. The neonatal LysoGb3 concentration in classic Fabry disease exceeded that observed in
normal subjects by over 15 times.

Conclusions: A substantial increase of LysoGb3 was documented during the first months of life in classic Fabry
disease, suggesting an early plateau during the pre-symptomatic period. Such a progressive metabolic trend during
the pre-symptomatic period implies the potential definition of a metabolic threshold useful for a preventive
therapeutic approach of classic Fabry disease. Additionally, the consistent increase of LysoGb3 in the neonatal
period in classic Fabry disease suggests LysoGb3 as a useful marker for improving the specificity of newborn
screening for Fabry disease.

Authors
Marco Spada, a, David Kasper, b, Veronica Pagliardini, a, Elisa Biamino, a, Silvana Giachero, a and Francesco Porta,a *

a Department of Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy
b Archimed Life Science GmbH, Vienna, Austria.

*corresponding author

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