Gaucher Disease 2011
Summary
Gaucher Disease is a lysosomal storage disease, which was first described by Philippe Gaucher in 1882. It is a genetic disease, which is caused by a recessive autosomal mutation in the gene GBA. It causes accumulation of glucosylceramide, because the enzyme glucocerebrosidase does not work. Therefore the patients show several symptomes which are described below. Respective to the severity and the symptomes of the disease, it is subdivided into three types. The diagnosis is made by genetic testing or it can be detected by biochemical abnormalities (for example high alkaline phosphatase, angiotensin-converting enzyme, immunoglobulin levels). The treatment is only possible for type 1 and partially type 3 by an enzyme replacement therapy.
Phenotype
Gaucher Disease patients show various symptomes caused by the accumulation of glucosylceramide in the cells. The most common form of Gaucher Disease is Type 1, Type 2 is the rarest form and also the worst. Children who have Gaucher Disease Type 2 die at the age of two years. Patients of all types show an enlarged spleen and liver and often have liver malfunction. They also have skeletal disorders, bone lesions and sometimes osteoporosis. Patients also have a swelling of the lymph nodes, low blood platelets and anemia. They have a brownish skin and yellow fatty deposits on the white of the eye. In type 3 and mainly in type 2 they show severe neurologic disorders.
Cross-references
See also description of this disease in
