Renal Ultrasound contributes to Fabry Disease Diagnosis

Introduction: Renal impairment in Fabry disease is widely known, but the occurrence of renal cysts as a manifestation of the disease should still be highlighted among radiologists and other physicians.Objectives: To compare the presence of parapelvic cysts between Fabry disease and other causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods: We evaluated demographic, clinical and laboratory data, as well as kidney ultrasound (US) findings in 91 patients with Fabry disease (n=37) and different glomerulopathies (n=54).Results: Both groups were similar in age (p = 0.29), gender (p = 0.98), eGFR (p = 0.10) and CKD stages (p = 0.19).Presence of parapelvic cysts differed significantly between those two groups (p < 0.0001 in right and left kidneys; Cohen's h = 1.15).When present, diameters of the parapelvic cysts were similar.Both groups had signs of CKD such as corticomedullary undifferentiation.None of the mutations we found in GLA gene was associated with a higher prevalence of parapelvic cysts.Conclusions: When compared to different glomerulopathies, parapelvic cysts were more frequently found in Fabry disease despite age, gender and stage of CKD.Parapelvic cysts on ultrasound can raise suspicion on Fabry disease in patients with kidney disease of unknown etiology especially in the context of a familial nephropathy.