Abstract

The marked phenotypic variation within and among the Gaucher disease clinical types has been known for several decades, but the characterization of this variation has generally been limited to relatively small patient populations (Sibille et al, 1993; Zimran et al, 1989; Zimran et al, 1991; Zimran et al, 1992). In addition, these characterizations are skewed because of the ascertainment bias in European-derived and, specifically, Ashkenazi Jewish populations. With broader knowledge about the major phenotypes, known as types 1, 2, and 3, the understanding of a spectrum or continuum has evolved with regard to clinical/pathologic involvement, particularly for the neuronopathic variants (Table 1; Fig. 1A). Excluding CNS involvement, the continuum extends to the variation in the visceral disease of overlapping involvement among and between type 1, 2, and 3 diseases (Fig. 1B). The advent of specific therapies for, the need for early prognostication in, and the search for modifying agents of Gaucher disease make complex phenotyping not merely an academic nosologic exercise, but of major practical and basic import. Thus, such distinctions impact whole-life medical care delivery, reproductive decisions, and therapeutic choices for affected families. Importantly, approaches to presymptomatic or prospective intervention therapies and/or use of therapies with significant risk require accurate risk-benefit analyses based on the prognosis for individual patients. Detailed phenotyping and correlations to genotype could provide insight into individual susceptibility to varying disease severity. This need represents a prime motivation to correlate phenotypes and genotypes in Gaucher disease as well as other inherited disorders.

Table 146.1-1: Classic Nosology for Gaucher Disease Phenotypes

Characteristic	Type 1	Type 2	Type 3
Age at onset	Childhood/adulthood	Infantile	Childhood/adolescence
Hepatosplenomegaly	+→+++	+→+++	+→++++
Bone disease	+→+++	—	+→++++
Neurodegeneration	—	++++	+→+++
Age at death	Childhood/adulthood	Median 9 months	Childhood/adulthood
Ethnic predilection	Panethnic/AshkenaziJews	Panethnic	Panethnic/Norrbottnian Sweden

The purpose of this chapter is to delineate the spectrum of Gaucher disease involvement using the large experience of the International Collaborative Gaucher disease Group (ICGG) database. The categorical classification of type 1, and types 2 or 3, representing nonneuronopathic and neuronopathic diseases, respectively, will be preserved as they retain clinical significance. The spectrum of phenotypic variation within type 1 will be delineated using the large ICGG dataset, and a definition of Gaucher disease type 1 will be developed from the 3248 patients about whom data are available. For types 2 and 3--acute and subacute neuronopathic diseases, respectively--data will come mostly from the literature. However, skewing of the database and literature toward European-derived populations limits insights into ethnic variation within the Gaucher disease types. Significant variations already are becoming apparent among these demographic groups. A compilation of mutations for the Gaucher disease patients represented in the ICGG database and the literature shows the genetic diversity and gives a background for initial genotype/phenotype correlations. All data from the ICGG registry are from patients with deficiencies/deficits of acid β-glucosidase (glucocerebrosidase, or GCase) and/or pathogenic mutations in the GCase gene (GBA). The reader is referred to Chap. 146 for a comprehensive review of the pathologic, biochemical, enzymologic, clinical laboratory, and historic aspects of Gaucher disease.