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Journal of Rare Cardiovascular Diseases
ISSN: 2299-3711 (Print)
e-ISSN: 2300-5505 (Online)
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Myocardial infarction in Fabry disease – misfortune or companion? Case report and review of the literature (RCD code: III‑3B.2)
Jakub Chmiel
,  
Maciej Skubera
,  
Jacek Bednarek
,  
Klaudia Knap
,  
Marta Swarowska‑Skuza
,  
Stanisława Bazan‑Socha
,  
Adam Mazurek
,  
Lidia Tomkiewicz‑Pająk
,  
Maria Olszowska
,  
Piotr Podolec1
,  
Piotr Musiałek
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Abstract
We discuss a 56‑year‑old man with Fabry disease (FD), a genetic X‑linked glycolipid storage disorder. The patient presented at the Emer gency Room in a local hospital due to tachycardia‑associated chest pain, which had occurred occasionally in the past, but on that oc casion was long‑lasting (>12h) and distressing. The patient had been diagnosed with FD at the age of 42. He presented a range of symptoms characteristic for the condition, including hypertrophic cardiac myopathy with impaired left ventricular relaxation, angiokera tomas, cornea verticillata, hypohydrosis and acroparesthesia. Residual alpha‑galactosidase A activity at diagnosis was ≈3%. The Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) with the agalsidase alpha was induced. A year later pacemaker implantation was performed due to sick sinus syndrome with symptomatic, severe episodes of bradycardia. The initial diagnosis was tachycardia‑associated chest pain with troponin release in the context of FD left ventricular hypertrophy. However, a decision was made to perform an urgent angiographic evaluation to exclude coronary pathology as a potential factor in the clinical picture. Coronary angiography showed a critical, flow‑limiting, stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) which changed the initial type 2 myocardial infarction (MI) diagnosis to the type 1 MI. Percu taneous stent‑assisted treatment was performed with an optimal angiographic and clinical outcome. However, 5 days later the patient developed a minor left hemispheric ischaemic stroke. In conclusion, the clinical course of a rare pathology such as FD may be importantly complicated by other (more common) pathologies. Physicians, in their diagnostic and therapeutic decision‑making, need to be open to thinking beyond the patient label.
Keywords
rare disease, echocardiography, enzyme replacement therapy, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, echocardiography, ischemic stroke
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Keywords
Classification of Rare Cardiovascular Diseases anticoagulation atrial fibrillation atrial septal defect cardiomyopathy computed tomography congenital heart disease echocardiography electrocardiogram electrocardiography heart failure implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator magnetic resonance imaging pregnancy pulmonary arterial hypertension pulmonary hypertension rare cardiovascular disease rare disease right heart catheterization right ventricular failure
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