Do Not Miss the (Genetic) Diagnosis of Gaucher Syndrome: A Narrative Review on Diagnostic Clues and Management in Severe Prenatal and Perinatal-Lethal Sporadic Cases

J Clin Med. 2021 Oct 23;10(21):4890. doi: 10.3390/jcm10214890.

Abstract

With a growing number of proved therapies and clinical trials for many lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), a lot of hope for many patients and families exists. However, there are sometimes cases with poor prognosis, fatal outcomes when our efforts must be directed towards a prompt and correct genetic diagnosis, which offers the only possibility of providing the family with appropriate prevention and treatment. To address this issue, in this article, we present the clinical and genetic hallmarks of the lethal form of Gaucher disease (PLGD) and discuss the potential management. We hope that this will draw attention to its specific manifestations (such as collodion-baby phenotype, ichthyosis, arthrogryposis), which differ from best-known GD complications and ensure appropriate diagnostic assessment to provide families at risk with reliable counselling and treatment to avoid the medical complication of GD.

Keywords: GBA gene; Gaucher disease; NIHF; PLGD; ichthyosis; perinatal-lethal Gaucher disease.

Publication types

  • Review