Structured abstract
Introduction
Cardiac involvement in Fabry disease (FD) usually manifests as a concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with rare cases developing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), symptoms varying from fatigue and exercise associated dyspnea to angina or arrhythmias.
Case presentation
We present the case of a 54 year-old male with cardiovascular risk factors and aggravated exertional dyspnea in the past year, in whom the echocardiography showed hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Cardiac magnetic resonance was used as differential diagnosis tool between sarcomeric HOCM and other phenocopies, suggesting a cardiac involvement of Fabry disease. Final diagnosis was formulated based on genetic testing and enzymatic activity of alpha-galactosidase. LVOTO was addressed by alcohol septal ablation successfully both in short term as well as at 1 year follow-up.
Discussion
The present case illustrates the complex clinical pathway of a patient with HOCM due to FD, where multimodality imaging was instrumental from differential diagnosis to therapeutic choices, which addressed both the pathogenic background and the organ involvement. Although at the moment the number of patients with of FD cardiomyopathy undergoing LVOTO reduction therapies is scarce, current recommendations should be extended to also include these patients.