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Weinreb NJ, Goker-Alpan O, Kishnani PS, Longo N, Burrow TA, Bernat JA, Gupta P, Henderson N, Pedro H, Prada CE, Vats D, Pathak RR, Wright E, Ficicioglu C. The diagnosis and management of Gaucher disease in pediatric patients: Where do we go from here? Mol Genet Metab 2022; 136:4-21. [PMID: 35367141 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive inherited lysosomal storage disease that often presents in early childhood and is associated with damage to multiple organ systems. Many challenges associated with GD diagnosis and management arise from the considerable heterogeneity of disease presentations and natural history. Phenotypic classification has traditionally been based on the absence (in type 1 GD) or presence (in types 2 and 3 GD) of neurological involvement of varying severity. However, patient management and prediction of prognosis may be best served by a dynamic, evolving definition of individual phenotype rather than by a rigid system of classification. Patients may experience considerable delays in diagnosis, which can potentially be reduced by effective screening programs; however, program implementation can involve ethical and practical challenges. Variation in the clinical course of GD and an uncertain prognosis also complicate decisions concerning treatment initiation, with differing stakeholder perspectives around efficacy and acceptable cost/benefit ratio. We review the challenges faced by physicians in the diagnosis and management of GD in pediatric patients. We also consider future directions and goals, including acceleration of accurate diagnosis, improvements in the understanding of disease heterogeneity (natural history, response to treatment, and prognosis), the need for new treatments to address unmet needs for all forms of GD, and refinement of the tools for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy, such as specific biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neal J Weinreb
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Ozlem Goker-Alpan
- Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center, Fairfax, VA, USA.
| | - Priya S Kishnani
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Nicola Longo
- Division of Medical Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - T Andrew Burrow
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR, USA.
| | - John A Bernat
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Punita Gupta
- St Joseph's University Hospital, Paterson, NJ, USA.
| | - Nadene Henderson
- Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Helio Pedro
- Center for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA.
| | - Carlos E Prada
- Division of Genetics, Birth Defects & Metabolism, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Divya Vats
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Ravi R Pathak
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Lexington, MA, USA.
| | | | - Can Ficicioglu
- Division of Human Genetics and Metabolism, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA.
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Gumus E, Karhan AN, Hizarcioglu-Gulsen H, Demir H, Ozen H, Saltik Temizel IN, Dokmeci Emre S, Yuce A. Clinical-genetic characteristics and treatment outcomes of Turkish children with Gaucher disease type 1 and type 3: A sixteen year single-center experience. Eur J Med Genet 2021; 64:104339. [PMID: 34500086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2021.104339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Data from 38 children were retrospectively analyzed to determine the patient characteristics of Turkish children with Gaucher disease (GD) and evaluate the impact of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in a pediatric cohort consisting of two different sub-types of the disease, Gaucher disease type 1 (GD1) and type 3 (GD3). Both types were represented equally (GD1/GD3 = 20/18). L444P (35.5%) was the most common mutant allele while L444P/L444P (34.2%) was the most common genotype overall. Compound heterozygosity of N370S and L444P homozygosity were the dominant genotypes in Turkish children with GD1 and GD3, respectively. None of the patients had moderate to severe thrombocytopenia at last follow-up while the percent of patients with anemia decreased from 60% to 5.7% (p < 0.001). Significant improvements in mean liver (from 2.2 to 1.6 MN, p < 0.001) and spleen (from 15.5 to 7.6 MN, p < 0.001) volumes were observed in the first year of ERT. Linear growth was ameliorated as shown by the decrease in the percent of patients having short stature from 34.3% to 13.3% (p < 0.01) at year 5. Erlenmeyer flask deformity, osteopenia and scoliosis were common skeletal findings. Although none of the patients had lung disease at diagnosis, 20% developed radiological findings suggestive of pulmonary involvement. This single center experience is the first comprehensive study from Turkey not only reporting clinical and genetic characteristics of GD patients but also providing information on the outcomes of ERT in two different sub-types of GD. Genotypic background of Turkish children with GD is similar to western populations. Although visceral and hematological therapeutic goals are reached as early as one year of ERT in both sub-types, achieving normal growth takes several more years than suggested in significant number of children with GD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ersin Gumus
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Asuman Nur Karhan
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Hulya Demir
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hasan Ozen
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Inci Nur Saltik Temizel
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Serap Dokmeci Emre
- Department of Medical Biology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aysel Yuce
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
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Bjelobrk M, Lakocevic M, Damjanovic S, Petakov M, Petrovic M, Bosnic Z, Arena R, Popovic D. Cardiopulmonary assessment of patients diagnosed with Gaucher's disease type I. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 9:e1757. [PMID: 34275192 PMCID: PMC8404234 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the basis of the phenotypic variation in Gaucher's disease (GD) has proven to be challenging for efficient treatment. The current study examined cardiopulmonary characteristics of patients with GD type 1. Methods Twenty Caucasian subjects (8/20 female) with diagnosed GD type I (GD‐S) and 20 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (C), were assessed (mean age GD‐S: 32.6 ± 13.1 vs. C: 36.2 ± 10.6, p > .05) before the initiation of treatment. Standard echocardiography at rest was used to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed on a recumbent ergometer using a ramp protocol. Results LVEF was similar in both groups (GD‐S: 65.1 ± 5.2% vs. C: 65.2 ± 5.2%, p > .05), as well as PAPS (24.1 ± 4.2 mmHg vs. C: 25.5 ± 1.3 mmHg, p > .05). GD‐S had lower weight (p < .05) and worse CPET responses compared to C, including peak values of heart rate, oxygen consumption, carbondioxide production (VCO2), end‐tidal pressure of CO2, and O2 pulse, as well as HR reserve after 3 min of recovery and the minute ventilation/VCO2 slope. Conclusions Patients with GD type I have an abnormal CPET response compared to healthy controls likely due to the complex pathophysiologic process in GD that impacts multiple systems integral to the physiologic response to exercise. Our study demonstrate that patients with Gaucher's disease (GD) type I have an abnormal Cardiopulmonary exercise testing response compared to healthy controls. These findings are likely due to the complex pathophysiologic process in GD that impacts multiple systems integral to the physiologic response to exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Bjelobrk
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia, Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
| | - Milan Lakocevic
- Division of Endocrinology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Svetozar Damjanovic
- Division of Endocrinology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milan Petakov
- Division of Endocrinology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milan Petrovic
- Division of Cardiology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zoran Bosnic
- Laboratory for Cognitive Modeling, Artificial Intelligence Department, Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ross Arena
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dejana Popovic
- Division of Cardiology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Lazea C, Bucerzan S, Al-Khzouz C, Zimmermann A, Vesa ȘC, Nașcu I, Creț V, Crișan M, Asăvoaie C, Miclea D, Grigorescu-Sido P. Cardiac Manifestations in a Group of Romanian Patients with Gaucher Disease Type 1 (a Monocentric Study). Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11060989. [PMID: 34072542 PMCID: PMC8227770 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11060989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gaucher disease (GD), one of the most common lysosomal disorders, is characterised by clinical heterogeneity. Cardiac involvement is rare and refers to pulmonary hypertension (PH), valvular abnormalities and myocardial infiltrative damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac involvement in a group of Romanian GD patients. Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation was carried out in 69 patients with GD type 1. Annual echocardiography and electrocardiography were performed to assess pulmonary pressure, morphology and function of the valves and electrocardiographic changes. Nine patients (13%) exhibited baseline echocardiographic signs suggesting PH. Mitral regurgitation was present in 33 patients (48%) and aortic regurgitation in 11 patients (16%). One patient presented aortic stenosis. Significant valvular dysfunction was diagnosed in 10% of patients. PH was associated with greater age (p < 0.001), longer time since splenectomy (p = 0.045) and longer time between clinical onset and the start of enzyme replacing therapy (p < 0.001). Electrocardiographic changes were present in five patients (7%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Lazea
- 1st Pediatric Discipline, Mother and Child Department, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Clinic Pediatrics I, Emergency Pediatric Hospital, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.B.); (C.A.-K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-744-353-764
| | - Simona Bucerzan
- 1st Pediatric Discipline, Mother and Child Department, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Clinic Pediatrics I, Emergency Pediatric Hospital, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.B.); (C.A.-K.)
- Department of Genetic Diseases, Emergency Pediatric Hospital, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Camelia Al-Khzouz
- 1st Pediatric Discipline, Mother and Child Department, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Clinic Pediatrics I, Emergency Pediatric Hospital, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (S.B.); (C.A.-K.)
- Department of Genetic Diseases, Emergency Pediatric Hospital, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anca Zimmermann
- 1st Clinic and Polyclinic of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic 2, Clinic of Worms, Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Ștefan Cristian Vesa
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Ioana Nașcu
- Emergency Pediatric Hospital, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.N.); (V.C.); (M.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Victoria Creț
- Emergency Pediatric Hospital, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.N.); (V.C.); (M.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Mirela Crișan
- Emergency Pediatric Hospital, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.N.); (V.C.); (M.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Carmen Asăvoaie
- Emergency Pediatric Hospital, 400370 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.N.); (V.C.); (M.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Diana Miclea
- Department of Medical Genetics, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Emergency Pediatric Hospital, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Paula Grigorescu-Sido
- Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
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Dinur T, Zimran A, Becker-Cohen M, Arkadir D, Cozma C, Hovakimyan M, Oppermann S, Demuth L, Rolfs A, Revel-Vilk S. Long Term Follow-Up of 103 Untreated Adult Patients with Type 1 Gaucher Disease. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8101662. [PMID: 31614613 PMCID: PMC6832634 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of disease-specific therapy for patients with type I Gaucher disease (GD1) was a revolution in the management of patients, but not without cost. Thus, the management of mildly affected patients is still debated. We herein report a long-term follow-up (median (range) of 20 (5–58) years) of 103 GD1 patients who have never received enzymatic or substrate reduction therapy. The median (range) platelet count and hemoglobin levels in last assessment of all but six patients who refused therapy (although recommended and approved) were 152 (56–408) × 103/mL and 13.1 (7.6–16.8) g/dL, respectively. Most patients had mild hepatosplenomegaly. Nine patients were splenectomized. No patient developed clinical bone disease. The median (range) lyso-Gb1 levels at last visit was 108.5 (8.1–711) ng/mL; lowest for patients with R496H/other and highest for patients refusing therapy. This rather large cohort with long follow-up confirms that mildly affected patients may remain stable for many years without GD-specific therapy. The challenge for the future, when newborn screening may detect all patients, is to be able to predict which of the early diagnosed patients is at risk for disease-related complications and therefore for early treatment, and who may remain asymptomatic or minimally affected with no need for disease-specific therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tama Dinur
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
| | - Ari Zimran
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel.
| | | | - David Arkadir
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel.
- Neurological Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem 9112002, Israel.
| | | | | | | | | | - Arndt Rolfs
- Centogene AG, 18055 Rostock, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Shoshana Revel-Vilk
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel.
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Hurvitz N, Dinur T, Becker-Cohen M, Cozma C, Hovakimyan M, Oppermann S, Demuth L, Rolfs A, Abramov A, Zimran A, Revel-Vilk S. Glucosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb1) as a Biomarker for Monitoring Treated and Untreated Children with Gaucher Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20123033. [PMID: 31234327 PMCID: PMC6627663 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20123033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of glucosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb1), a downstream metabolic product of glucosylceramide, for monitoring treated and untreated children with Gaucher disease (GD) has not yet been studied. We reviewed the clinical charts of 81 children (<18 years), 35 with mild type 1 GD (GD1), 34 with severe GD1 and 12 with type 3 GD (GD3), followed at Shaare Zedek Medical Center between 2014-2018. Disease severity for GD1 was based on genotypes. Forty children (87%) with severe GD1 and GD3 received enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) compared to two children (6%) with mild GD1. Lyso-Gb1 measurements were conducted on dried blood spot samples taken at each clinic visit. Lyso-Gb1 levels were significantly lower in children with mild compared to severe GD1 (p = 0.009). In untreated children, lyso-Gb1 levels were inversely correlated with platelet counts. During follow-up, lyso-Gb1 increased in almost 50% of untreated children, more commonly in younger children. In treated children, lyso-Gb1 levels were inversely correlated with hemoglobin levels. The increase of lyso-Gb1 while receiving ERT, seen in eight children, was partly associated with compliance and weight gain. Lyso-Gb1 seems to be a useful biomarker for monitoring children with GD and should be included in the routine follow-up. Progressive increase in lyso-Gb1 levels in untreated children suggests ERT initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Hurvitz
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel.
| | - Tama Dinur
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
| | - Michal Becker-Cohen
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
| | | | | | | | | | - Arndt Rolfs
- Centogene AG, Rostock 18055, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Rostock, Rostock 18051, Germany.
| | - Aya Abramov
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel.
| | - Ari Zimran
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel.
| | - Shoshana Revel-Vilk
- Gaucher Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel.
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from the deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (b-glucosidase), associated with varying degrees of visceral, bone and central nervous system pathology, leading to wide phenotypic diversity. Response to therapy and clinical outcomes are very different between the three clinical subtypes - non-neuronopathic, acute neuronopathic, and chronic neuronopathic forms; hence a definitive clinical diagnosis is essential. The availability of two therapeutic options, i.e. enzyme replacement and substrate reduction, has transformed the natural course of the disease. As pre-treatment disease severity clearly impacts results of therapy, early diagnosis and initiation of treatment especially in the pediatric population are keys to achieving an optimal outcome. Areas covered: We reviewed the literature concerning the treatment of GD focusing on pediatric presentations, various pharmacological treatment options and recommendations for management goals. A PubMed literature search was performed for relevant publications between 1991 and September 2018. Expert commentary: The approval of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for GD in the pediatric age group has significantly altered the course of the disease, especially for non-neuronopathic and chronic neuronopathic forms, as ERT does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Early diagnosis, regular follow-up and early initiation of treatment can thus prevent some irreversible complications and improve patient quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Punita Gupta
- a Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics , St. Joseph's Children's Hospital , Paterson , NJ , USA
| | - Gregory Pastores
- b Department of Medicine (Genetics) , University College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gaucher disease, the autosomal recessive deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase, is associated with wide phenotypic diversity including non-neuronopathic, acute neuronopathic, and chronic neuronopathic forms. Overlap between types can render definitive diagnoses difficult. However, differentiating between the different phenotypes is essential due to the vast differences in clinical outcomes and response to therapy. Genotypic information is helpful, but cannot always be used to make clinical predictions. Current treatments for Gaucher disease, including enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy, can reverse many of the non-neurological manifestations, but these therapies must be administered continually and are extremely costly. AREAS COVERED We reviewed the literature concerning the varied clinical presentations of Gaucher disease throughout the lifetime, along with treatment options, management goals, and current and future research challenges. A PubMed literature search was performed for relevant publications between 1991 to January 2018. EXPERT COMMENTARY Interest and research in the field of Gaucher disease is rapidly expanding. However, significant barriers remain in our ability to predict phenotype, assess disease progression using objective biomarkers, and determine optimal treatment strategy on an individual basis. As the field grows, we anticipate identification of genetic modifiers, new biomarkers, and small-molecule chaperone therapies, which may improve patient quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam E Gary
- a Medical Genetics Branch , NHGRI, NIH , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Emory Ryan
- a Medical Genetics Branch , NHGRI, NIH , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Alta M Steward
- a Medical Genetics Branch , NHGRI, NIH , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Ellen Sidransky
- a Medical Genetics Branch , NHGRI, NIH , Bethesda , MD , USA
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