A Study to Collect Normative Data on Fabry Disease Patients With Enhanceable Alpha-Galactosidase A Activity

This study will collect data needed to design a treatment trial for patients with Fabry disease using the experimental drug AT-1001. Fabry disease is an inherited metabolic disorder in which an enzyme called alpha-galactosidase A, which normally breaks down fatty substances called glycolipids, is missing or does not function properly. As a result, glycolipids accumulate in various tissues, causing liver, kidney, nerves, skin, muscle and blood vessel problems. No treatment is given in this survey study.

Males 18 years of age and older with Fabry disease who have certain genetic mutations associated with enhancement of alpha-galactosidase A activity may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures over 5 days:

Day 1

Medical history and physical examination, blood tests, electrocardiogram (EKG), routine urinalysis, measurements of height, weight, and vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and temperature).

Day 2

Blood tests, 24-hour urine collection, vital signs and sweat test. The sweat test (also called QSART, or quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test) measures the amount of sweat in a particular area of skin. A small amount of medication called acetylcholine is put on an area of the skin and a small electric current is applied to stimulate the sweat glands.

Day 3

Blood tests, 24-hour urine collection, vital signs, and skin biopsy. For the skin biopsy, a small area of skin is numbed and a punch device is used to remove a 3-mm (1/8-inch) layer of skin for microscopic examination.

Day 4

Blood tests, 24-hour urine collection, vital signs, and QSART.

Day 5

Blood tests and vital signs.

In addition to the above, patients are scheduled at some point in the 5-day study for an eye examination, brain magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA), and a heart examination and echocardiogram. MRA uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to provide images of the blood vessels in the head and neck. It can detect abnormalities such as aneurysms, vessel malformations, and thickening of the vessel walls. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test that shows how well the heart pumps blood and if there is thickening of the heart muscle.

Patients who are taking enzyme replacement therapy discontinue treatment for up to 6 weeks (no more than two missed infusions) to allow accurate measurement of the amount of alpha-galactosidase A the patient's body produces by itself. They provide weekly blood samples between the time they stop treatment and enter the study. The samples are used to monitor the removal of the enzyme from the body and the possible buildup of Gb(3) in the blood.