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NINDS Gaucher's Disease Information Page

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What is Gaucher's Disease?

Gaucher disease is an inherited metabolic disorder in which harmful quantities of a fatty substance called glucocerebroside accumulate in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and sometimes in the brain. There are three types of Gaucher disease. The first category, called type 1, is by far the most common. Patients in this group usually bruise easily and experience fatigue due to anemia and low blood platelets. They also have an enlarged liver and spleen, skeletal disorders, and, in some instances, lung and kidney impairment. There are no signs of brain involvement. Symptoms can appear at any age. In type 2 Gaucher disease, liver and spleen enlargement are apparent by 3 months of age. Patients have extensive and progressive brain damage and usually die by 2 years of age. In the third category, called type 3, liver and spleen enlargement is variable, and signs of brain involvement such as seizures gradually become apparent. All Gaucher patients exhibit a deficiency of an enzyme called glucocerebrosidase that is involved in the breakdown and recycling of glucocerebroside. The buildup of this fatty material within cells prevents the cells and organs from functioning properly. Gaucher disease is one of several lipid storage diseases.

Is there any treatment?

Highly effective enzyme replacement therapy is available for most patients with types 1 and 3 Gaucher disease. This therapy decreases liver and spleen size, reduces skeletal anomalies, and successfully reverses other symptoms of the disorder, including abnormal blood counts. Bone marrow transplantation (a procedure to replace damaged or destroyed blood-forming cells) can reverse the non-neurological effects of type 1 Gaucher disease, but it carries a high mortality rate due to imperfect donor matches. This procedure has been replaced by enzyme replacement therapy. There is no effective treatment for severe brain damage that may occur in patients with types 2 and 3 Gaucher disease.

What is the prognosis?

Enzyme replacement therapy is very beneficial for type 1 patients and most type 3 patients with this condition.

What research is being done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health), supports research to find ways to treat and prevent lipid storage disorders. This research includes clinical studies by the NINDS Developmental and Metabolic Neurology Branch: (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/find_people/labs/61.htm).

NIH Patient Recruitment for Gaucher's Disease Clinical Trials

Organizations

National Gaucher Foundation
2227 Idlewood Road, Suite 12
Tucker, GA   30084
ngf@gaucherdisease.org
http://www.gaucherdisease.org
Tel: 800-504-3189
Fax: 770-934-2911

 Children's Gaucher Research Fund
P.O. Box 2123
Granite Bay, CA   95746-2123
research@childrensgaucher.org
http://www.childrensgaucher.org
Tel: 916-797-3700
Fax: 916-797-3707
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 1968
(55 Kenosia Avenue)
Danbury, CT   06813-1968
orphan@rarediseases.org
http://www.rarediseases.org
Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673)
Fax: 203-798-2291

 National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association
2001 Beacon Street
Suite 204
Brighton, MA   02135
info@ntsad.org
http://www.ntsad.org
Tel: 617-277-4463 800-90-NTSAD (906-8723)
Fax: 617-277-0134
Related NINDS Publications and Information


Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892



NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.

All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.

Last updated February 07, 2008