Fabry disease results from deficient α-galactosidase A activity and globotriaosylceramide accumulation causing renal insufficiency, strokes, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and early demise.
This cardiac variant serves as an "experiment of nature" showing that the residual alpha-Gal A activity precludes glycosphingolipid deposition in the renal endothelial and other cells that lead to early renal failure in classically affected men, whereas marked podocyte accumulation is associated with proteinuria and possibly late-onset renal dysfunction.