Gaucher disease is the most common of the inherited metabolic disorder known as lipid storage diseases.  Lipids are fatty materials that include oils, fatty acids, waxes, and steroids (such as cholesterol and estrogen).  Gaucher disease is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase.  Fatty materials can accumulate in the spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow, and brain.  Symptoms may include skeletal disorders, enlarged spleen and liver, liver malfunction, anemia, and yellow spots in the eyes.  There are three clinical subtypes of Gaucher disease. The first category, called type 1 (or nonneuropathic), is the most common. Symptoms may begin early in life or in adulthood.  People in this group usually bruise easily due to low blood platelets and experience fatigue due to anemia  They also have an enlarged liver and spleen, skeletal disorders, and, in some instances, lung and kidney impairment. There are no signs of brain involvement. Symptoms can appear at any age. Many individuals may have a mild form of the disorder and not show any symptoms.  In type 2 Gaucher disease (acute infantile neuropathic Gaucher disease), liver and spleen enlargement are apparent by 3 months of age. Individuals usually die before 2 years of age. In the third category, called type 3 (or chronic neuropathic Gaucher disease), liver and spleen enlargement is variable, and signs of brain involvement such as seizures gradually become apparent. Major symptoms also include skeletal  irregularities, eye movement disorders, seizures, respiratory problems and blood disorders.   Enzyme replacement therapy is available for most people with types 1 and 3 Gaucher disease. Given intravenously every two weeks, this therapy decreases liver and spleen size, reduces skeletal anomalies, and reverses other symptoms of the disorder, including abnormal blood counts. Bone marrow transplantation (a procedure to replace damaged or destroyed blood-forming cells) can reverse the non-neurological effects of type 1 Gaucher disease, but the procedure carries a high risk and is rarely performed.  Surgery to remove the spleen may be required on rare occasions, and blood transfusions may benefit some anemic patients.  Other patients may require joint replacement surgery to improve mobility and quality of life.  There is no effective treatment for severe brain damage that may occur in persons with types 2 and 3 Gaucher disease. Enzyme replacement therapy is very beneficial for type 1 and most type 3 patients with this condition. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health), supports research to find ways to treat and prevent lipid storage disorders. This research includes clinical studies by the NINDS Developmental and Metabolic Neurology Branch. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&term=gaucher+disease+AND+human[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[ptyp]+OR+review+literature[mh]+OR+practice+guideline[ptyp]+OR+guideline[ptyp]+OR+clinical+trials[mh]+OR+clinical+trial[ptyp]+OR+consumerj[sb])&db=PubMed&orig_db=PubMed&filters=on&pmfilter_EDatLimit=5+Years http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gauchersdisease.html 1 http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term= /disorders/gauchers/pubs_gauchers.htm /disorders/gauchers/xml_gauchers.xml xml_gauchers.xml V136 National Gaucher Foundation

2227 Idlewood Road, Suite 12

Tucker GA 30084 ngf@gaucherdisease.org http://www.gaucherdisease.org 800-504-3189 770-934-2911 Funds research for a cure and alternative treatments for Gaucher Disease; provides education, financial, support and mentor programs and advocates for legislation affecting the Gaucher and rare disease community. V817 Children's Gaucher Research Fund

P.O. Box 2123

Granite Bay CA 95746-2123 research@childrensgaucher.org http://www.childrensgaucher.org 916-797-3700 916-797-3707 Grassroots non-profit organization that supports research efforts on Types 2 and 3 Gaucher disease. V91 National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

55 Kenosia Avenue

Danbury CT 06810 orphan@rarediseases.org http://www.rarediseases.org 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673) 203-798-2291 Federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. Committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service. V223 National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association

2001 Beacon Street

Suite 204 Boston MA 02135 info@ntsad.org http://www.ntsad.org 800-90-NTSAD (906-8723) 617-277-0134 The mission of the National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association is to lead the fight to treat and cure Tay-Sachs, Canavan and related genetic diseases and to support affected families and individuals in leading fuller lives.