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Recognizing signs and symptoms of Gaucher disease
Gaucher disease is an inherited, autosomal recessive, lifelong condition marked by extreme diversity in genotype, phenotype, age of onset, and disease severity, as well as an unpredictable, progressive disease course.1,2 Signs, symptoms, and clinical course may differ even among individuals with the same genotype and within the same family.3 Symptoms should not be ignored, as this progressive condition may lead to further medical complications.1
Symptoms are diverse, unpredictable, and variable1-3
Onset may occur at any age
Patients may be asymptomatic or present with any number of symptoms
The nature and severity of some symptoms may fluctuate as the disease progresses
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of Gaucher disease may not be obvious. The early signs and symptoms of Gaucher disease type 1 tend to reflect the hematologic aspects of the disease, but skeletal manifestations are often present.4
The most common and frequent symptoms of Gaucher disease include:
- Visceral: splenomegaly and hepatomegaly2
- Hematologic: thrombocytopenia and anemia2,5
- Skeletal: bone pain, Erlenmeyer flask deformity, spontaneous fracture, osteopenia, and osteonecrosis6
Gaucher disease type 1 often mimics the signs and symptoms of many hematological malignancies (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma)1
Gaucher disease also may display inactive periods interrupted by episodes of acute crises or evidence of disease advancement.1,5
Patients may appear to be asymptomatic, yet harbor mild disease manifestations such as cytopenia, splenomegaly, or osteopenia.4
Gaucher disease is progressive, and delays in diagnosis and/or management may lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications1,4,7
Bleeding due to thrombocytopenia/coagulopathy
Progressive visceral enlargement
Bone pain, fractures, and osteonecrosis
Growth delay in children
Markedly reduced quality of life
Shortened life
Early diagnosis and timely treatment are important, as damage caused by Gaucher disease type 1 may be irreversible1,4
Indication
References: 1. Mistry PK et al. Am J Hematol. 2007;82(8):697-701. 2. Stirnemann J et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(2):441. 3. Lachmann RH et al. Q J Med. 2004:97(4):199-204. 4. Mistry PK et al. Am J Hematol. 2011;86(1):110-115. 5. Mistry PK et al. Clin Adv Hematol Onc. 2012;10(6 Suppl 8):1-16. 6. Charrow J et al. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160(18):2835-2843. 7. Cox TM et al. Biologics. 2010:4:299-313.