Angiokeratomas of Fabry successfully treated with intense pulsed light

Abstract

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X‐linked lysosomal storage disorder resulting from the deficient activity of the enzyme α‐galactosidase A. Angiokeratomas (AKs) are a frequent manifestation of this disease. They usually become apparent during childhood and can cause important cosmetic disability. Current treatment of this feature in the setting of FD has been mainly based on the application of laser systems, namely the argon laser, the variable pulse width 532‐nm Nd:YAG laser, the 578‐nm copper vapor laser and the flashlamp‐pumped pulsed dye laser. We report the case of a 31‐year‐old Caucasian woman with a clinical and molecular (GLA p.R118C) diagnosis of FD, presenting multiple AKs scattered over the buttocks and thighs. She was treated with 10 sessions of intense pulsed light (IPL), with a 4–8‐week interval between them. An almost complete clearance of the lesions was obtained, with no scars or significant complaints. No recurrence occurred during a 12‐month follow‐up period. The IPL source can be considered a suitable, effective and safe treatment modality for these cutaneous lesions that typically affect patients with FD, with no need for local anesthesia and with very satisfactory cosmetic results. To our best knowledge, there are no reports in the literature of Fabry's AKs treated with IPL.

• Angiokeratomas
• Fabry disease
• intense pulsed light
• IPL
• treatment