A Cardiac Variant of Fabry Disease Diagnosed with Chance Urinary Mulberry Cells

Intern Med. 2018 Dec 1;57(23):3385-3388. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1177-18. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Abstract

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of α-galactosidase A and is classified into two types: classical and variant. The classical type exhibits classic manifestations, but the variant type does not and is therefore difficult to identify sometimes. A 73-year-old woman with a first episode of heart failure was admitted to our hospital. Her left ventricular wall motion was mildly reduced without hypertrophy. Urine sediment revealed mulberry cells, leading to the diagnosis of Fabry disease. In cases without typical clinical findings, urinary mulberry cells may help diagnose Fabry disease.

Keywords: cardiac variant; fabry disease; mulberry body; mulberry cell.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Fabry Disease / complications*
  • Fabry Disease / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / etiology*
  • Humans