Extensive vascular and valvular involvement in Gaucher disease

Neuronopathic Gaucher disease: Rare in the West, common in the East

Gaucher disease (GD) stands as one of the most prevalent lysosomal disorders, yet neuronopathic GD (nGD) is an uncommon subset characterized by a wide array of clinical manifestations that complicate diagnosis, particularly when neurological symptoms are understated. nGD may manifest as the acute neuronopathic type, or GD type 2 (GD2), either prenatally or within the first weeks to months of life, whereas GD type 3 (GD3) symptoms may emerge at any point during childhood or occasionally in adolescence. The clinical presentation encompasses severe systemic involvement to mild visceral disease, often coupled with a spectrum of progressive neurological signs and symptoms such as cognitive impairment, ataxia, seizures, myoclonus, varying degrees of brainstem dysfunction presenting with stridor, apneic episodes, and/or impaired swallowing. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive review of the incidence, distinctive presentations, and diverse clinical phenotypes of nGD across various countries and regions. It will explore the natural history of the neurodegenerative process in GD, shedding light on its various manifestations during infancy and childhood, and offer insights into the diagnostic journey, the challenges faced in the clinical management, and current and investigative therapeutic approaches for GD's neurological variants.

Extensive cardiovascular involvement in a young boy with Gaucher's disease: a case report

Background

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are rare, progressive, multi-organ disorders caused by inherited enzyme deficiencies. Gaucher's disease (GD) is the most prevalent form of LSDs.

Case summary

A 19-year-old Caucasian male presented with exertional dyspnoea. Physical examination revealed a Grade III/VI systolic diamond murmur at the heart base and a Grade IV/VI systolic murmur at the apex. Electrocardiogram showed signs of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) and trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TEE) demonstrated moderate LVH, severe aortic valve stenosis, severe supra-valvular aortic stenosis, and moderate mitral stenosis with severe degenerative mitral valve regurgitation. Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration confirmed the presence of characteristic Gaucher's cells. The patient underwent the Bentall procedure and mitral valve replacement and was discharged in good condition.

Discussion

Gaucher's disease exhibits three clinical phenotypes, and cardiovascular involvement is commonly seen in GD Type III. Valvular calcification and ascending aorta involvement are frequent cardiovascular manifestations. Although severe valvular heart involvement is rare in GD, cardiac valve surgery has shown favourable outcomes in previous studies and our case.

Metabolic Cardiomyopathies and Cardiac Defects in Inherited Disorders of Carbohydrate Metabolism: A Systematic Review

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive chronic disease that remains a primary cause of death worldwide, affecting over 64 million patients. HF can be caused by cardiomyopathies and congenital cardiac defects with monogenic etiology. The number of genes and monogenic disorders linked to development of cardiac defects is constantly growing and includes inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs). Several IMDs affecting various metabolic pathways have been reported presenting cardiomyopathies and cardiac defects. Considering the pivotal role of sugar metabolism in cardiac tissue, including energy production, nucleic acid synthesis and glycosylation, it is not surprising that an increasing number of IMDs linked to carbohydrate metabolism are described with cardiac manifestations. In this systematic review, we offer a comprehensive overview of IMDs linked to carbohydrate metabolism presenting that present with cardiomyopathies, arrhythmogenic disorders and/or structural cardiac defects. We identified 58 IMDs presenting with cardiac complications: 3 defects of sugar/sugar-linked transporters (GLUT3, GLUT10, THTR1); 2 disorders of the pentose phosphate pathway (G6PDH, TALDO); 9 diseases of glycogen metabolism (GAA, GBE1, GDE, GYG1, GYS1, LAMP2, RBCK1, PRKAG2, G6PT1); 29 congenital disorders of glycosylation (ALG3, ALG6, ALG9, ALG12, ATP6V1A, ATP6V1E1, B3GALTL, B3GAT3, COG1, COG7, DOLK, DPM3, FKRP, FKTN, GMPPB, MPDU1, NPL, PGM1, PIGA, PIGL, PIGN, PIGO, PIGT, PIGV, PMM2, POMT1, POMT2, SRD5A3, XYLT2); 15 carbohydrate-linked lysosomal storage diseases (CTSA, GBA1, GLA, GLB1, HEXB, IDUA, IDS, SGSH, NAGLU, HGSNAT, GNS, GALNS, ARSB, GUSB, ARSK). With this systematic review we aim to raise awareness about the cardiac presentations in carbohydrate-linked IMDs and draw attention to carbohydrate-linked pathogenic mechanisms that may underlie cardiac complications.

Pediatric Porcelain Aorta Secondary to Gaucher Disease Type 3C With Successful Aortic Replacement Surgery

Gaucher type 3C disease with porcelain aorta can cause severe hemodynamic impairment. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of a 13-year-old Mexican girl with a GBA1 homozygous c.1342G>C [p.Asp448His] (commonly known as p.D409H) pathogenic variant who underwent extensive aortic replacement. She has been on enzyme replacement therapy and is alive 5 years after surgery. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.)

Cardiac Manifestations in a Group of Romanian Patients with Gaucher Disease Type 1 (a Monocentric Study)

Gaucher disease (GD), one of the most common lysosomal disorders, is characterised by clinical heterogeneity. Cardiac involvement is rare and refers to pulmonary hypertension (PH), valvular abnormalities and myocardial infiltrative damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac involvement in a group of Romanian GD patients. Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation was carried out in 69 patients with GD type 1. Annual echocardiography and electrocardiography were performed to assess pulmonary pressure, morphology and function of the valves and electrocardiographic changes. Nine patients (13%) exhibited baseline echocardiographic signs suggesting PH. Mitral regurgitation was present in 33 patients (48%) and aortic regurgitation in 11 patients (16%). One patient presented aortic stenosis. Significant valvular dysfunction was diagnosed in 10% of patients. PH was associated with greater age (p < 0.001), longer time since splenectomy (p = 0.045) and longer time between clinical onset and the start of enzyme replacing therapy (p < 0.001). Electrocardiographic changes were present in five patients (7%).

Two siblings with Gaucher type 3c: different clinical presentations

Background Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene, which encodes acid β-glucosidase. GD type 3c is a rare group characterised by cardiovascular involvement, and homozygous D448H is the most frequent mutation. Case presentation We describe two patients who had homozygous D448H mutations. The index patient had hepatosplenomegaly, liver insufficiency and cardiac involvement and her sister had severe cardiac involvement with cardiomyopathy and diffuse aortic calcification. The index case's liver was transplanted at the age of 6 months from a related donor and her sister who had severe cardiovascular disease died at the age of 12 years. Conclusions Our patients had clinical variability. We need to discuss whether liver involvement could be the initial signs in patients with GD type 3c.

Aortic calcification in Gaucher disease: a case report

Gaucher disease is the most common sphingolipid storage disease and is present in all ethnic groups. Its symptoms span all systems including the cardiovascular system. The health care provider should be vigilant regarding this potentially fatal complication. Gaucher disease type IIIC has been linked to causing oculomotor apraxia and cardiac calcification. We report a Saudi girl who developed valvular and aortic calcification in late childhood and died as a result of her cardiovascular complications. This report further strengthens the association and reminds the clinicians that patients with D409H mutation need echocardiographic evaluation annually.