Assessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry studies in Fabry disease

Abstract Background Fabry disease (FD) is a rare multi-systemic lysosomal storage disease that affects the heart and kidneys most significantly. An underappreciated manifestation of FD is reduced bone mineral density. Currently, there are no specific guidelines for routine bone density assessments,...

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Main Authors: Alyaa Shmara, Grace Lee, Mania Mgdsyan, Kathy Hall, Nadia Sadri, Angela Martin-Rios, Kelsey Valentine, Tatiana Kain, Madeleine Pahl, Lynda E. Polgreen, Virginia Kimonis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03601-x
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author Alyaa Shmara
Grace Lee
Mania Mgdsyan
Kathy Hall
Nadia Sadri
Angela Martin-Rios
Kelsey Valentine
Tatiana Kain
Madeleine Pahl
Lynda E. Polgreen
Virginia Kimonis
author_facet Alyaa Shmara
Grace Lee
Mania Mgdsyan
Kathy Hall
Nadia Sadri
Angela Martin-Rios
Kelsey Valentine
Tatiana Kain
Madeleine Pahl
Lynda E. Polgreen
Virginia Kimonis
author_sort Alyaa Shmara
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Fabry disease (FD) is a rare multi-systemic lysosomal storage disease that affects the heart and kidneys most significantly. An underappreciated manifestation of FD is reduced bone mineral density. Currently, there are no specific guidelines for routine bone density assessments, and treatment of osteoporosis and osteopenia in FD. Materials and methods To ascertain the frequency of low bone mineral density in FD we studied dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans obtained as part of routine care from a cohort of 25 individuals followed at the University of California—Irvine Medical Center for the period 2008–2023. The most recent BMD results for the lumbar spine and femoral neck were collected from 12 males and 13 females to examine the prevalence of low bone mineral density. The lowest Z- and/or T-scores of either lumbar spine or femoral neck were selected for analysis. Demographic factors, disease and ERT status, and other laboratory values were collected concurrently (within ± 9 months) with DXA scan results and were analyzed with Z- and T-scores to assess for correlations. In our cohort the mean age was 51 years (median 56 years, range 18–77 years). The Z-scores for all participants and T-scores from postmenopausal women and men ≥ 50-year-old were analyzed and correlated with various measures including disease duration, BMI, renal function (measured by eGFR), plasma GL3, Lyso-GL3, calcium, vitamin D, and alkaline phosphatase levels. These parameters were concurrent with DXA scan results. Results The average Z-score for all the participants was −1.2 ± 1.3 (range −4.6 to 1.6). Twenty-four percent of all participants (n = 6) had significantly low Z-scores ≤ −2.0. To identify the frequency of subjects with osteopenia, defined as T-score between −1.0 and −2.5 and osteoporosis defined as T-score < −2.5, T-scores were analyzed in postmenopausal women (n = 8) and men 50 years and older (n = 7). Of these 15 individuals, average T-score was −2.2 ± 1.3 (range −5.4 to 0.3), and 86.7% (n = 13) had abnormal results (osteopenia and osteoporosis), 53.3% (n = 8) had osteoporosis and 33.3% (n = 5) had osteoporosis. We found a significant difference in Z-scores between male (−1.98 ± 1.33) and female patients (−.45 ± 0.82) t (23) = 3.487 (p =  < 0.001). We did not find any differences in z-scores between different ethnic backgrounds. There was a strong negative correlation between Z-scores and Lyso-GL3 levels [r (15) = −.72, p = .001] and a moderate positive correlation between Z-scores and body mass index (BMI) [r (23) = .43, p = .033]. No correlation was found between Z-scores and calcium levels. There is a strong negative correlation between T-scores and Lyso-GL3 levels [r (8) = -.86, p = .001] and a negative correlation between T-scores and participants’ ages at the time of DXA [r (13) = −.57, p = 0.028]. There is a positive correlation between T- scores and calcium levels [r (12) = .58, p = 0.030]. No significant correlation was observed between T-scores and BMI. There was no correlation between Z or T- scores and disease duration, duration of ERT use, renal function (measured by eGFR), GL3, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase levels, or their use of vitamin D or concomitant antiepileptic medications. Conclusion The findings of this cohort highlight the high prevalence of low bone mineral density in FD and correlations of low Z and T- scores with elevated levels of Lyso-GL3, and low calcium levels. We did not find correlations with renal function, and vitamin D levels. We discuss etiology, prevention, and treatment strategies for osteopenia/osteoporosis in Fabry disease.
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spelling doaj-art-6c0bd5c106c848589d26caf087a44a732025-08-20T02:10:56ZengBMCOrphanet Journal of Rare Diseases1750-11722025-04-012011910.1186/s13023-025-03601-xAssessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry studies in Fabry diseaseAlyaa Shmara0Grace Lee1Mania Mgdsyan2Kathy Hall3Nadia Sadri4Angela Martin-Rios5Kelsey Valentine6Tatiana Kain7Madeleine Pahl8Lynda E. Polgreen9Virginia Kimonis10Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California IrvineDivision of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California IrvineDivision of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California IrvineDivision of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California IrvineDivision of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California IrvineDivision of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California IrvineDivision of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California IrvineNuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, University of CaliforniaDivision of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Hypertension, and Kidney Transplantation, University of CaliforniaThe Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor, UCLA Medical CenterDivision of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California IrvineAbstract Background Fabry disease (FD) is a rare multi-systemic lysosomal storage disease that affects the heart and kidneys most significantly. An underappreciated manifestation of FD is reduced bone mineral density. Currently, there are no specific guidelines for routine bone density assessments, and treatment of osteoporosis and osteopenia in FD. Materials and methods To ascertain the frequency of low bone mineral density in FD we studied dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans obtained as part of routine care from a cohort of 25 individuals followed at the University of California—Irvine Medical Center for the period 2008–2023. The most recent BMD results for the lumbar spine and femoral neck were collected from 12 males and 13 females to examine the prevalence of low bone mineral density. The lowest Z- and/or T-scores of either lumbar spine or femoral neck were selected for analysis. Demographic factors, disease and ERT status, and other laboratory values were collected concurrently (within ± 9 months) with DXA scan results and were analyzed with Z- and T-scores to assess for correlations. In our cohort the mean age was 51 years (median 56 years, range 18–77 years). The Z-scores for all participants and T-scores from postmenopausal women and men ≥ 50-year-old were analyzed and correlated with various measures including disease duration, BMI, renal function (measured by eGFR), plasma GL3, Lyso-GL3, calcium, vitamin D, and alkaline phosphatase levels. These parameters were concurrent with DXA scan results. Results The average Z-score for all the participants was −1.2 ± 1.3 (range −4.6 to 1.6). Twenty-four percent of all participants (n = 6) had significantly low Z-scores ≤ −2.0. To identify the frequency of subjects with osteopenia, defined as T-score between −1.0 and −2.5 and osteoporosis defined as T-score < −2.5, T-scores were analyzed in postmenopausal women (n = 8) and men 50 years and older (n = 7). Of these 15 individuals, average T-score was −2.2 ± 1.3 (range −5.4 to 0.3), and 86.7% (n = 13) had abnormal results (osteopenia and osteoporosis), 53.3% (n = 8) had osteoporosis and 33.3% (n = 5) had osteoporosis. We found a significant difference in Z-scores between male (−1.98 ± 1.33) and female patients (−.45 ± 0.82) t (23) = 3.487 (p =  < 0.001). We did not find any differences in z-scores between different ethnic backgrounds. There was a strong negative correlation between Z-scores and Lyso-GL3 levels [r (15) = −.72, p = .001] and a moderate positive correlation between Z-scores and body mass index (BMI) [r (23) = .43, p = .033]. No correlation was found between Z-scores and calcium levels. There is a strong negative correlation between T-scores and Lyso-GL3 levels [r (8) = -.86, p = .001] and a negative correlation between T-scores and participants’ ages at the time of DXA [r (13) = −.57, p = 0.028]. There is a positive correlation between T- scores and calcium levels [r (12) = .58, p = 0.030]. No significant correlation was observed between T-scores and BMI. There was no correlation between Z or T- scores and disease duration, duration of ERT use, renal function (measured by eGFR), GL3, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase levels, or their use of vitamin D or concomitant antiepileptic medications. Conclusion The findings of this cohort highlight the high prevalence of low bone mineral density in FD and correlations of low Z and T- scores with elevated levels of Lyso-GL3, and low calcium levels. We did not find correlations with renal function, and vitamin D levels. We discuss etiology, prevention, and treatment strategies for osteopenia/osteoporosis in Fabry disease.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03601-xFabry diseaseDXABone mineral densityEnzyme replacement therapy
spellingShingle Alyaa Shmara
Grace Lee
Mania Mgdsyan
Kathy Hall
Nadia Sadri
Angela Martin-Rios
Kelsey Valentine
Tatiana Kain
Madeleine Pahl
Lynda E. Polgreen
Virginia Kimonis
Assessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry studies in Fabry disease
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Fabry disease
DXA
Bone mineral density
Enzyme replacement therapy
title Assessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry studies in Fabry disease
title_full Assessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry studies in Fabry disease
title_fullStr Assessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry studies in Fabry disease
title_full_unstemmed Assessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry studies in Fabry disease
title_short Assessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry studies in Fabry disease
title_sort assessing osteopenia and osteoporosis with dual energy x ray absorptiometry studies in fabry disease
topic Fabry disease
DXA
Bone mineral density
Enzyme replacement therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-025-03601-x
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