Fabry Disease
What is Fabry?
Fabry disease is closely related to mucopolysaccharidoses and is one of the lysosomal storage diseases. It was first described in 1898 by William Anderson and Johannes Fabry and is also referred to by some as Anderson–Fabry disease.
What causes Fabry?
In the course of normal life there is a continuous recycling process in the body which consists of building new materials and breaking down old ones ready for disposal. This activity takes place in a special part of the body’s cells called the lysosome. This process requires a series of biochemical tools called enzymes. The enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-GAL) is essential in breaking down the fatty acid globotriaosylceramide (GL3).
People with Fabry cannot make enough of alpha-GAL, without enough levels of the enzyme the normal functioning of vital organs is affected. When GL3 is not completely broken down it builds up within the cells of the body causing progressive damage. Organs such as kidney, heart and brain eventually start to deteriorate, and severe or life-threatening complications can arise. Babies may show little sign of the disease but as more and more cells become damaged by an accumulation of these waste products, symptoms start to appear.
Fabry Findings
Rare Disease Research Partners have produced a series of publications on behalf of the Fabry International Network which present the findings from research carried out in the Fabry community. You can download the first two issues below.
Living with Fabry
How is Fabry inherited?
People probably carry from 5 to 10 genes with mutations in each of their cells. Genes are the unique set of instructions inside our bodies that make each of us an individual. They are the blueprint for our growth and development, as well as controlling how our bodies function. Genes are carried on structures called chromosomes and it is usual to have 23 pairs. A child will inherit half of the chromosomes from the mother and the other half from the father resulting in 23 pairs. 22 of these pairs look the same in both males and females. Pair 23 are the sex chromosomes, and this is the pair that differ between females and males. The X chromosome is inherited from the mother and the Y chromosome is inherited from the father. More information about inheritance is available here.
The inheritance pattern for Fabry is called X linked semi-dominant inheritance. Males only have one X chromosome, if it contains the faulty gene which cannot make enough enzyme alpha-GAL they are more likely to develop Fabry symptoms. Males can only pass the faulty gene to the daughters, so the daughters will be carriers of the disease, sons will not be affected by Fabry.

Females may have less severe Fabry symptoms than males but this is not always the case. This is because females have two X chromosomes, one of which will be active and one inactive. It is a matter of chance which chromosome is active or inactive in a particular cell. If the X chromosome with the faulty gene is active then a female is likely to show many of the classic features of Fabry. There is a 1 in 2 chance that that faulty gene will be passed on to the children, regardless of whether they are male or female.

All parents of children with Fabry can benefit from genetic counselling, the counsellor can provide advice on the risk to close relatives and to suggest whether the wider family should be informed. To find out during a pregnancy, if the baby is affected by Fabry, screening tests can be arranged early on during a pregnancy for those families who already have a child with Fabry. Where only one parent is a carrier, they can opt for carrier screening but it is not 100% reliable or accurate and is not possible in all cases. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are both available during the pregnancy to find out if the baby is affected by Fabry.
It is also possible to have Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) screening to avoid passing Fabry to the baby. PGD is an assisted fertility treatment that involves checking the chromosomes of embryos before they are transferred in the womb using IVF techniques.
How are people with Fabry affected?
Treatment options for Fabry
How common is Fabry?
Research and clinical trials in Fabry
Living with Fabry
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
Points to remember
-
Having DLA does not automatically mean you will get PIP -
A child potentially needs more support than a young person/adult, that is why the claim may be reduced or refused -
Mobility component is more stringent, walking distances have reduced -
You have to be UNABLE to perform activities for 182 days of the year, this has Implications for Fabry members who only experience periodic “Fabry Crisis”
Medical Assessment
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Generally your assessor will not be a doctor, they can be nurses, physiotherapist, occupational therapists, paramedics, but all have some medical background
-
They may have read about Fabry but it’s how it affects you as an individual that you need to tell them
-
They will ask you about how you manage the everyday tasks such as cooking a simple meal, you need to explain why you cannot do this
-
Fabry condition varies so it is important to say when you are unable to function; is it all the time, or just when you have a crisis
Hints and Tips
-
Be prepared – refresh your memory on what is written on PIP form
-
Take someone with you who knows your condition and can speak up if you forget things
-
Remember you are observed from the time you arrive
-
Remind the assessor TODAY IS A GOOD DAY - otherwise you would not be attending
-
You will be asked to perform some physical movements remember: IF IT HURTS DON’T DO IT YOU WILL NOT BE PENALISED FOR THIS
Appeals and Tribunals
-
A revision request must be made in writing – This is a Mandatory Reconsideration- MPS Society can help you go through the reasons refused and look at the descriptors, additional medical evidence may need to be supplied
-
A right to appeal will arise once the revision request is considered, appeals are made in writing directly to the First-tier Tribunal and again we can help with this
Moving from DLA to PIP
Many of you may have received DLA and then found that allowance had reduced or been withdrawn when you changed to PIP at 16 years old. I would suggest that if you have previously completed the forms yourself it would be helpful to ask me first to help with the PIP form rather than waiting till you have been turned down, and then struggle to do a Mandatory Reconsideration. I have generally found that you need to put in a lot more specific examples than members generally do.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
Points to remember
-
Having DLA does not automatically mean you will get PIP -
A child potentially needs more support than a young person/adult, that is why the claim may be reduced or refused -
Mobility component is more stringent, walking distances have reduced -
You have to be UNABLE to perform activities for 182 days of the year, this has Implications for Fabry members who only experience periodic “Fabry Crisis”
Medical Assessment
-
Generally your assessor will not be a doctor, they can be nurses, physiotherapist, occupational therapists, paramedics, but all have some medical background
-
They may have read about Fabry but it’s how it affects you as an individual that you need to tell them
-
They will ask you about how you manage the everyday tasks such as cooking a simple meal, you need to explain why you cannot do this
-
Fabry condition varies so it is important to say when you are unable to function; is it all the time, or just when you have a crisis
Hints and Tips
-
Be prepared – refresh your memory on what is written on PIP form
-
Take someone with you who knows your condition and can speak up if you forget things
-
Remember you are observed from the time you arrive
-
Remind the assessor TODAY IS A GOOD DAY - otherwise you would not be attending
-
You will be asked to perform some physical movements remember: IF IT HURTS DON’T DO IT YOU WILL NOT BE PENALISED FOR THIS
Appeals and Tribunals
-
A revision request must be made in writing – This is a Mandatory Reconsideration- MPS Society can help you go through the reasons refused and look at the descriptors, additional medical evidence may need to be supplied
-
A right to appeal will arise once the revision request is considered, appeals are made in writing directly to the First-tier Tribunal and again we can help with this
Moving from DLA to PIP
Many of you may have received DLA and then found that allowance had reduced or been withdrawn when you changed to PIP at 16 years old. I would suggest that if you have previously completed the forms yourself it would be helpful to ask me first to help with the PIP form rather than waiting till you have been turned down, and then struggle to do a Mandatory Reconsideration. I have generally found that you need to put in a lot more specific examples than members generally do.
Useful links
Contact us
Our helpline is open 9-5pm
Monday-Friday: 0345 389 9901
Out of hours support line open 5pm-10pm Monday-Friday and weekends:
07712 653 258
Treatment
For available treatment options and the latest news and information on research, therapies and clinical trials please visit our treatment section.
You might be interested in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, it's a discreet way for adults and children with hidden disabilities to show that they need additional support or just a little more time.
You can now get a card which indicates that you are out shopping/exercising to clip onto your Hidden Disabilities lanyard to use during social-distancing.

Introducing Rebecca
My name is Rebecca Brandon and I have been the support worker for Fabry members for the last 10 years. Since joining the society, the Fabry membership has grown and we now have over 450 members.
Because of the way it is inherited, Fabry tends to have a domino affect once one person has been diagnosed. Each person is unique, not everyone has symptoms and some have many.
I wanted to let you know about a few areas of support that we give to the Fabry family membership. We assist with all aspects of life, from talking to employers and schools to education, health, benefits, housing, adaptations and much more. The information on this page focuses on the main areas that I seem to have more contact about than any other but please know that I am always here to help should you need it.