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Background: We aimed to compare the prognostic value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) without known coronary artery disease., Methods: Two-hundred twenty-nine ESRD patients who applied for kidney transplantation at our centre were prospectively evaluated by MPS and DSE. The primary endpoint was a composite of myocardial infarction (MI) or all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint included MI or coronary revascularization (CR) not triggered by MPS or DSE at baseline., Results: MPS detected reversible ischemia in 31 patients (13.5%) and fixed perfusion defects in 13 (5.7%) patients. DSE discovered stress-induced wall motion abnormalities (WMAs) in 28 (12.2%) and at rest in 18 (7.9%) patients. MPS and DSE results agreed in 85.6% regarding reversible defects (κ = 0.358; P < .001) and in 90.8% regarding fixed defects (κ = 0.275; P < .001). Coronary angiography detected relevant stenosis > 50% in only 15 of 38 patients (39.5%) with pathological findings in MPS and/or DSE. At a median follow-up of 8 years and 10 months, the primary endpoint occurred in 70 patients (30.6%) and the secondary endpoint in 24 patients (10.5%). The adjusted Cox hazard ratios (HRs) for the primary endpoint were 1.77 (95% CI 1.02-3.08; P = .043) for perfusion defects in MPS and 1.36 (95% CI 0.78-2.37; P = ns) for WMA in DSE. The secondary endpoint was significantly correlated with the findings of both modalities, MPS (HR 3.21; 95% CI 1.35-7.61; P = .008) and DSE (HR 2.67; 95% CI 1.15-6.20; P = .022)., Conclusion: Perfusion defects in MPS are a stronger determinant of all-cause mortality, MI and the need for future CR compared with WMAs in DSE. Given the complementary functional information provided by MPS vs DSE, results are sometimes contradictory, which may indicate differences in the underlying pathophysiology., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Aims: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A (GLA/AGAL), resulting in the lysosomal accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). Patients with amenable GLA mutations can be treated with migalastat, an oral pharmacological chaperone increasing endogenous AGAL activity. In this prospective observational multicentre study, safety as well as cardiovascular, renal, and patient-reported outcomes and disease biomarkers were assessed after 12 and 24 months of migalastat treatment under 'real-world' conditions., Methods and Results: A total of 54 patients (26 females) (33 of these [61.1%] pre-treated with enzyme replacement therapy) with amenable mutations were analysed. Treatment was generally safe and well tolerated. A total of 153 events per 1000 patient-years were detected. Overall left ventricular mass index decreased after 24 months (all: -7.5 ± 17.4 g/m2, P = 0.0118; females: -4.6 ± 9.1 g/m2, P = 0.0554; males: -9.9 ± 22.2 g/m2, P = 0.0699). After 24 months, females and males presented with a moderate yearly loss of estimated glomerular filtration rate (-2.6 and -4.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year; P = 0.0317 and P = 0.0028, respectively). FD-specific manifestations/symptoms remained stable (all P > 0.05). A total of 76.9% of females and 50% of males suffered from pain, which has not improved under treatment. FD-specific disease scores (Disease Severity Scoring System and Mainz Severity Score Index) remained stable during treatment. AGAL activities and plasma lyso-Gb3 values remained stable, although some male patients presented with increasing lyso-Gb3 levels over time., Conclusions: Treatment with migalastat was generally safe and resulted in most patients in an amelioration of left ventricular mass. However, due to the heterogeneity of FD phenotypes, it is advisable that the treating physician monitors the clinical response regularly., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2021.)

Fabry's disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) leading to intracellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). Patients with amenable mutations can be treated with migalastat, a recently approved oral pharmacologic chaperone to increase endogenous α-Gal A activity. We assessed safety along with cardiovascular, renal, and patient-reported outcomes and disease biomarkers in a prospective observational multicenter study after 12 months of migalastat treatment under "real-world" conditions. Fifty-nine (28 females) patients (34 (57.6%) pretreated with enzyme replacement therapy) with amenable mutations were recruited. Migalastat was generally safe and well tolerated. Females and males presented with a reduction of left ventricular mass index (primary end point) (-7.2 and -13.7 g/m 2 , P = 0.0050 and P = 0.0061). FD-specific manifestations and symptoms remained stable (all P > 0.05). Both sexes presented with a reduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate (secondary end point) (-6.9 and -5.0 mL/minute/1.73 m 2 ; P = 0.0020 and P = 0.0004, respectively), which was most prominent in patients with low blood pressure (P = 0.0271). α-Gal A activity increased in male patients by 15% from 29% to 44% of the normal wild-type activity (P = 0.0106) and plasma lyso-Gb3 levels were stable in females and males (P = 0.3490 and P = 0.2009). Reevaluation of mutations with poor biochemical response revealed no marked activity increase in a zero activity background. We conclude that therapy with migalastat was generally safe and resulted in an amelioration of left ventricular mass. In terms of impaired renal function, blood pressure control seems to be an unattended important goal., (© 2020 The Authors Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics © 2020 American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Background: Fabry patients on reduced dose of agalsidase-beta or after switch to agalsidase-alfa show a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and an increase of the Mainz Severity Score Index., Methods: In this prospective observational study, we assessed end-organ damage and clinical symptoms in 112 patients who had received agalsidase-beta (1.0 mg/kg) for >1 year, who were (i) non-randomly assigned to continue this treatment regime (regular-dose group, n = 37); (ii) received a reduced dose of agalsidase-beta and subsequent switch to agalsidase-alfa (0.2 mg/kg) or a direct switch to 0.2 mg/kg agalsidase-alfa (switch group, n = 38); or (iii) were re-switched to agalsidase-beta after receiving agalsidase-alfa for at least 12 months (re-switch group, n = 37) with a median follow-up of 53 (38-57) months., Results: eGFR of patients in the regular-dose group remained stable. Patients in the switch group showed an annual eGFR loss of - 4.6  ±  9.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P < 0.05). Patients in the re-switch group also had an eGFR loss of - 2.2  ±  4.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 after re-switch to agalsidase-beta, but to a lower degree compared with the switch group (P < 0.05). Patients in the re-switch group suffered less frequently from diarrhoea (relative risk 0.42; 95% confidence interval 0.19-0.93; P = 0.02). Lyso-Gb3 remained stable in the switch (P = 0.97) and the regular-dose (P = 0.48) groups, but decreased in the re-switch group after change of the therapy regimen (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: After switch to agalsidase-alfa, Fabry patients experienced a continuous decline in eGFR, while this decline was attenuated in patients who were re-switched to agalsidase-beta. Decreasing lyso-Gb3 levels may indicate a better treatment response in the latter group.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death after renal transplantation with a high prevalence in dialysis patients. It is still a matter of debate how to assess the cardiovascular risk in kidney transplant candidates. Several approaches and scores exist and found their way into the guidelines., Methods and Results: We herein assessed PROCAM, Framingham, ESC-SCORE and our own dedicated algorithm in patients applying for renal transplantation at our transplantation center between July 2006 and August 2009. Data of 347 consecutive patients were recorded at baseline and during a follow-up of 4.1 years regarding cardiovascular (CV) events and event-free and overall survival. During follow-up 31 (8.9%) patients died, 24 (6.9%) myocardial infarctions occurred and 19 (5.5%) patients received a new diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease. Predictors for event-free survival identified by univariable Cox regression analysis were age at start of dialysis, ESC-SCORE as well as our own score. Final multivariable model with a stepwise model building procedure revealed age at start of dialysis and smoking to be prognostic for event-free (hazard ratio 1.07/year and 2.15) and overall survival (1.10/year and 3.72)., Conclusion: Comparison of CV risk assessment scores showed that ESC-SCORE most robustly predicted event-free and overall survival in our cohort. We conclude that CV risk assessment by ESC-SCORE can be reasonably performed in kidney transplant candidates., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked multisystemic disorder with a heterogeneous phenotype. Especially atypical or late-onset type 2 phenotypes present a therapeutical dilemma., Methods: To determine the clinical impact of the alpha-Galactosidase A (GLA) p.A143T/ c.427G > A variation, we retrospectively analyzed 25 p.A143T patients in comparison to 58 FD patients with other missense mutations., Results: p.A143T patients suffering from stroke/ transient ischemic attacks had slightly decreased residual GLA activities, and/or increased lyso-Gb3 levels, suspecting FD. However, most male p.A143T patients presented with significant residual GLA activity (~50 % of reference), which was associated with normal lyso-Gb3 levels. Additionally, p.A143T patients showed less severe FD-typical symptoms and absent FD-typical renal and cardiac involvement in comparison to FD patients with other missense mutations. Two tested female p.A143T patients with stroke/TIA did not show skewed X chromosome inactivation. No accumulation of neurologic events in family members of p.A143T patients with stroke/transient ischemic attacks was observed., Conclusions: We conclude that GLA p.A143T seems to be most likely a neutral variant or a possible modifier instead of a disease-causing mutation. Therefore, we suggest that p.A143T patients with stroke/transient ischemic attacks of unknown etiology should be further evaluated, since the diagnosis of FD is not probable and subsequent ERT or chaperone treatment should not be an unreflected option.

Because of the shortage of agalsidase-β supply between 2009 and 2012, patients with Fabry disease either were treated with reduced doses or were switched to agalsidase-α. In this observational study, we assessed end organ damage and clinical symptoms with special focus on renal outcome after 2 years of dose-reduction and/or switch to agalsidase-α. A total of 89 adult patients with Fabry disease who had received agalsidase-β (1.0 mg/kg body wt) for >1 year were nonrandomly assigned to continue this treatment regimen (regular-dose group, n=24), to receive a reduced dose of 0.3-0.5 mg/kg and a subsequent switch to 0.2 mg/kg agalsidase-α (dose-reduction-switch group, n=28), or to directly switch to 0.2 mg/kg agalsidase-α (switch group, n=37) and were followed-up for 2 years. We assessed clinical events (death, myocardial infarction, severe arrhythmia, stroke, progression to ESRD), changes in cardiac and renal function, Fabry-related symptoms (pain, hypohidrosis, diarrhea), and disease severity scores. Determination of renal function by creatinine and cystatin C-based eGFR revealed decreasing eGFRs in the dose-reduction-switch group and the switch group. The Mainz Severity Score Index increased significantly in these two groups (P=0.02 and P<0.001, respectively), and higher frequencies of gastrointestinal pain occurred during follow-up. In conclusion, after 2 years of observation, all groups showed a stable clinical disease course with respect to serious clinical events. However, patients under agalsidase-β dose-reduction and switch or a direct switch to agalsidase-α showed a decline of renal function independent of the eGFR formula used., (Copyright © 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology.)

Because of the shortage of agalsidase-beta in 2009, many patients with Fabry disease were treated with lower doses or were switched to agalsidase-alfa. This observational study assessed end-organ damage and clinical symptoms during dose reduction or switch to agalsidase-alfa. A total of 105 adult patients with Fabry disease who had received agalsidase-beta (1.0 mg/kg body weight) for ≥1 year were nonrandomly assigned to continue this treatment regimen (regular-dose group, n=38), receive a reduced dose of 0.3-0.5 mg/kg (dose-reduction group, n=29), or switch to 0.2 mg/kg agalsidase-alfa (switch group) and were followed prospectively for 1 year. We assessed clinical events (death, myocardial infarction, severe arrhythmia, stroke, progression to ESRD); changes in cardiac, renal, and neurologic function; and Fabry-related symptoms (neuropathic pain, hypohidrosis, diarrhea, and disease severity scores). Organ function and Fabry-related symptoms remained stable in the regular-dose group. In contrast, estimated GFR decreased by about 3 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) (P=0.01) in the dose-reduction group, and the median albumin-to-creatinine ratio increased from 114 (0-606) mg/g to 216 (0-2062) mg/g (P=0.03) in the switch group. Furthermore, mean Mainz Severity Score Index scores and frequencies of pain attacks, chronic pain, gastrointestinal pain, and diarrhea increased significantly in the dose-reduction and switch groups. In conclusion, patients receiving regular agalsidase-beta dose had a stable disease course, but dose reduction led to worsening of renal function and symptoms. Switching to agalsidase-alfa is safe, but microalbuminuria may progress and Fabry-related symptoms may deteriorate.

Hyperphosphatemia is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in patients with renal disease and in healthy individuals. Here we tested whether high phosphate has a role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular events by interfering with endothelial function, thereby impairing microvascular function and angiogenesis. Protein expression analysis found downregulation of annexin II in human coronary artery endothelial cells, an effect associated with exacerbated shedding of annexin II-positive microparticles by the cells exposed to high phosphate media. EAhy926 endothelial cells exposed to sera from hyperphosphatemic patients also display decreased annexin II, suggesting a negative correlation between serum phosphate and annexin II expression. By using endothelial cell-based assays in vitro and the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay in vivo, we found that angiogenesis, vessel wall morphology, endothelial cell migration, capillary tube formation, and endothelial survival were impaired in a hyperphosphatemic milieu. Blockade of membrane-bound extracellular annexin II with a specific antibody mimicked the effects of high phosphate. In addition, high phosphate stiffened endothelial cells in vitro and in rats in vivo. Thus, our results link phosphate and adverse clinical outcomes involving the endothelium in both healthy individuals and patients with renal disease.

Background/aims: Recent retrospective studies suggest an association of therapy with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and increased mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Large artery structure and function are significantly impaired in RTR which contributes to their high cardiovascular morbidity and could be altered by erythropoietin. We aimed to examine the influence of ESA therapy on large artery stiffness and endothelial function in RTR., Methods: 63 RTR with chronic allograft dysfunction and renal anemia were randomized to a group receiving darbepoetin alfa (Dar) and a control group (Co). At baseline and after 8 months of treatment (cumulative Dar dose 11.1 µg/kg b.w.) brachial and common carotid artery distensibility coefficients, aortic pulse wave velocity, brachial artery flow-mediated and nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilation were measured as well as the following biomarkers of vascular function: vWF, sVCAM, sICAM, E-selectin, t-PA and PAI-1., Results: 23 patients in the Dar group and 17 patients in the Co group were available for per-protocol analysis. Hemoglobin increased significantly from 10.9 to 12.6 g/dl after 8 months in the Dar group, whereas it remained stable at 11.3 g/dl in the Co group. Effects on large artery stiffness, endothelial function and biomarkers of vascular function did not differ significantly between the two groups., Conclusion: Therapy with Dar during 8 months did not significantly impact parameters of large artery stiffness and endothelial function in RTR. These data suggest that therapy with erythropoietin does not deteriorate arterial stiffness and endothelial function in RTR., (Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Hereditary atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a dramatic disease frequently leading to dialysis, is associated with germline mutations of the CFH, CD46, or CFI genes. After identification of the mutation in an affected aHUS patient, single-site gene testing of relatives is the preventive care perspective. However, clinical data for family counselling are scarce. From the German-Speaking-Countries-aHUS-Registry, 33 index patients with mutations were approached for permission to offer relatives screening for their family-specific mutations and to obtain demographic and clinical data. Mutation screening was performed using direct sequencing. Age-adjusted penetrance of aHUS was calculated for each gene in index cases and in mutation-positive relatives. Sixty-one relatives comprising 41 parents and 20 other relatives were enrolled and mutations detected in 31/61. In total, 40 research participants had germline mutations in CFH, 19 in CD46 and in 6 CFI. Penetrance at age 40 was markedly reduced in mutation-positive relatives compared to index patients overall with 10% versus 67% (P < 0.001); 6% vs. 67% (P < 0.001) in CFH mutation carriers and 21% vs. 70% (P= 0.003) in CD46 mutation carriers. Age-adjusted penetrance for hereditary aHUS is important to understand the disease, and if replicated in the future, for genetic counselling., (© 2011 The Authors Annals of Human Genetics © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd/University College London.)

Background. A number of studies suggested that the type of dialysis membrane is associated with differences in long-term outcome of patients undergoing haemodialysis, both in terms of morbidity and mortality. In the majority of dialysis units, synthetic membranes are being used. However, no studies are available so far for comparison between different biocompatible membranes. Therefore, we studied the influence of high- and low-flux polysulphone membranes (PS) in comparison with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) membranes on mortality and morbidity on the basis of various laboratory parameters. Methods. In a cohort study, data of 260 consecutive haemodialysis patients entering our dialysis unit in the years 2003-07 were collected, comparing 435 PS patient-years and 85 PMMA patient-years. PMMA membranes ( n = 33) were used for those patients who did not tolerate (e.g. for pruritus) PS membranes ( n = 227). Low-flux dialysers ( n = 233) were compared with high-flux ( n = 37). Laboratory values were evaluated by unpaired t -test, and mortality was evaluated by log-rank test and Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, diabetes and laboratory parameters. Results. Patients in our dialysis unit had a high cardiovascular risk as demonstrated by a proportion of 63% of peripheral arterial disease. Despite this, cumulative survival was almost 60% after 5 years on dialysis. It was slightly but not significantly higher in patients on PMMA (68%) compared with PS dialysers (54%) and on high-flux (61%) versus low-flux membranes (54%). After accounting for the confounding effect of age and diabetes in the multivariate Cox regression analysis, there was no impact of the membranes used (high- or low-flux, PMMA or PS) on survival. Only age at the onset of dialysis showed a significant influence on survival ( P ≤ 0.001). Independent predictors of mortality in all patients in the multivariate Cox regression analysis were age, haemoglobin, leucocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatinine. Laboratory parameters between the high- and low- flux groups were not different. PS-treated patients showed significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) higher values for leucocytes, thrombocytes, ferritin, and CRP and lower values for haemoglobin, transferrin, creatinine, uric acid, creatine kinase (CK), and sodium than PMMA-treated patients. Irrespective of the membrane used, in deceased patients, the following laboratory values were higher than for patients alive: leucocytes, thrombocytes, ferritin and CRP; the following were lower: haemoglobin, iron, total protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid and CK. Conclusions. The data of 260 severely ill haemodialysis patients showed a slightly, but not significantly, reduced mortality in patients treated with PMMA membranes in comparison with PS and with high-flux membranes compared with low-flux. High- or low-flux membranes exhibited no difference in laboratory values. However, in PMMA patients, laboratory data with respect to inflammation, anaemia and nutrition were significantly improved compared with the PS group. A similarly positive laboratory pattern was seen in patients alive compared with patients deceased with both membrane types. The favourable effect of PMMA membranes may be explained by the reduced activation of catabolic components and inflammation, which, in turn, would result in an improved nutrition and better response to recombinant human erythropoietin.