PLoS ONE (Jan 2012)

Long-term effect of antibodies against infused alpha-galactosidase A in Fabry disease on plasma and urinary (lyso)Gb3 reduction and treatment outcome.

  • Saskia M Rombach,
  • Johannes M F G Aerts,
  • Ben J H M Poorthuis,
  • Johanna E M Groener,
  • Wilma Donker-Koopman,
  • Erik Hendriks,
  • Mina Mirzaian,
  • Sijmen Kuiper,
  • Frits A Wijburg,
  • Carla E M Hollak,
  • Gabor E Linthorst

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047805
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 10
p. e47805

Abstract

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IntroductionEnzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with alpha-Galactosidase A (aGal A) may cause antibody (AB) formation against aGal A in males with Fabry disease (FD). Anti agalsidase ABs negatively influence globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) reduction. We investigated the impact of agalsidase AB on Gb3 and lysoGb3 and clinical outcome in Fabry patients on ERT.MethodsAdult male and female patients on ERT for at least one year were included. Urinary Gb3 was measured by HPLC, plasma lysoGb3 by LC-ESI-MS/MS and AB with a neutralization assay.ResultsOf the 59 patients evaluable patients, 0/30 females and 17/29 males developed anti-agalsidase antibodies (AB+). Only 3/17 males had transient (low) titers (tolerized). All AB+ patients developed antibodies during the first year of treatment. Change of agalsidase preparation (or dose) did not induce antibody formation. AB+ males had significant less decline in plasma lysoGb3 compared to AB- males (p = 0.04). Urinary Gb3 levels decreased markedly in AB- but remained comparable to baseline in AB+ males (pConclusionIn male patients antibodies against aGal A remained present up to 10 years of ERT. The presence of these antibodies is associated with a less robust decrease in plasma lysoGb3 and a profound negative effect on urinary Gb3 reduction, which may reflect worse treatment outcome.