management

Last edited 10/2023 and last reviewed 10/2023

Seek specialist advice.

Treatment measures include:

  • avoidance of precipitating factors for pain and tiredness e.g. environmental temperature changes, physical exertion
  • ensuring increased fluid intake during exercise and in warm weather
  • carbamazepine may help to decrease or prevent pain attacks
  • antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants to prevent TIAs/strokes
  • avoid smoking
  • if mild renal dysfunction - low-sodium and low-protein diet
  • end-stage renal disease - renal dialysis, renal transplantation
  • if gastrointestinal symptoms - low-fat diet
  • prophylactic antibiotics - if mitral valve prolapse; also for dental treatments and surgery
  • cardiac intervention as indicated e.g. pacemaker, bypass surgery
  • dermatological treatment - laser therapy for removal of angiokeratomas
  • psychological support - for patient and families
  • enzyme replacement therapy is now available and generally well-tolerated
    • is evidence that this therapy may result in a decrease in pain and an improvement in cardiac and renal function (1)
    • usual treatment for Fabry disease is migalastat or enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alfa or agalsidase beta (2)
      • Pegunigalsidase alfa is another ERT
      • linical trial evidence shows that pegunigalsidase alfa works as well as agalsidase beta. There is no direct clinical trial evidence comparing pegunigalsidase alfa with agalsidase alfa or migalastat

Reference:

  1. Dermatology in Practice (2003), 11 (6), 24-7.
  2. NICE (October 2023). Pegunigalsidase alfa for treating Fabry disease