Gaucher disease perinatal lethal

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Other Names: Gaucher disease collodion type; Gaucher disease, perinatal-lethal form; Perinatal lethal Gaucher disease

Fetal Gaucher disease is the perinatal lethal form of Gaucher disease.

Epidemiology[edit | edit source]

It is very rare with an incidence of less than 5% of GD cases.

Cause[edit | edit source]

Fetal Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disease caused by a mutation in the GBA gene (1q21) that encodes for the lysosomal enzyme, glucocerebrosidase. The enzyme deficiency resulting from the mutation leads to accumulation of glucosylceramide (or beta-glucocerebrosidase) deposits in the cells of the reticuloendothelial system of the liver, spleen and bone marrow (Gaucher cells).

Inheritance[edit | edit source]

Autosomal recessive inheritance, a 25% chance

The transmission is autosomal recessive.

Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

This form is particularly severe. The disease manifests in the fetus with a decrease or absence of fetal movements, fetal and placental anasarca, hepatosplenomegaly, ichthyosis, arthrogryposis, facial dysmorphism and fetal thrombocytopenia. Death usually occurs in utero or shortly after birth (<3 months).

For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. 80%-99% of people have these symptoms

30%-79% of people have these symptoms

  • Anteverted nares(Nasal tip, upturned)
  • Depressed nasal bridge(Depressed bridge of nose)
  • Ectropion(Eyelid turned out)
  • Fetal akinesia sequence
  • [[Hepatomegaly](Enlarged liver)
  • High palate(Elevated palate)
  • Hypertonia
  • Low-set, posteriorly rotated ears
  • Muscular hypotonia(Low or weak muscle tone)
  • Seizure
  • Splenomegaly(Increased spleen size)

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Diagnosis is made by demonstrating a deficiency in the enzymatic activity of glucocerebrosidase.

Antenatal diagnosis Biochemical prenatal diagnosis is recommended for couples who have already had a child diagnosed with Fetal Gaucher disease or GD type 2. It can be carried out by measuring the enzyme activity in chorionic villus samples at 10-12 weeks of pregnancy or in amniocytes in culture towards 16 weeks of pregnancy.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

There is no treatment for this severe form of the disease.


NIH genetic and rare disease info[edit source]

Gaucher disease perinatal lethal is a rare disease.


Gaucher disease perinatal lethal Resources
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