Lysosomal storage diseases in the era of COVID-19: a report of an Egyptian case of alpha-fucosidosis and a summary of the lysosomal storage diseases-COVID-19 relationship

Abstract

Abstract Background We present a case of alpha-fucosidosis, a lysosomal storage disorder, from Egypt. The report also includes a brief review of the COVID-19 and lysosomal storage diseases relationship. Case presentation A female patient aged 18 years, diagnosed with type II fucosidosis, based on the cutaneous signs, characteristic facies, and systemic symptoms, and diagnosis was confirmed using genetic analysis. The patient died from COVID-19 pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic after getting the infection from her father and being hospitalized. Conclusions Patients with lysosomal storage diseases with local or systemic immune suppression may be predisposed to respiratory complications of COVID-19. Intense care with protective guidelines should be applied to those patients.

Keywords

• Alpha-fucosidosis
• Lysosomal storage diseases
• COVID-19
• Respiratory infection
• Angiokeratoma