Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019209 (hepatomegaly)
 5,798 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Four patients with moderately severe type I Gaucher disease were treated with commercially available mannose terminated glucocerebrosidase (Ceredase; Genzyme, Boston, MA) for up to 13 months. The enzyme was administered at the rate of three to four times weekly at one fourth the total recommended dosage, greatly decreasing the cost. Marked regression of hepatomegaly and improvement in liver function tests, peripheral blood counts, and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels were documented. The two patients with pulmonary involvement manifested improvement in pulmonary function tests. Skeletal disease remained unchanged.
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PMID:Enzyme replacement therapy for Gaucher disease. 187 85

Gaucher disease is the most frequent lysosomal storage disease and the most prevalent genetic disease among the Ashkenazi Jews (q approximately 0.047). The disease results from inherited defects of acid beta-glucosidase and the accumulation of the substrate, glucosylceramide, in cells of monocyte/macrophage origin. The therapeutic response to macrophage-targeted (alpha-mannosyl-terminated) alglucerase (Ceredase, at 60 to 15 IU/kg every 2 weeks) was analyzed in 33 patients (age range, 2 to 63 years; 15 splenectomized) with extensive Gaucher disease over periods of 6 to 24 months. The efficacy of several different doses and dosage reductions was evaluated. In patients with anemia (n = 30) and/or thrombocytopenia (n = 19), hemoglobin levels and platelet counts increased by 0% to 178% and 15% to 155%, respectively, within 3 to 12 months. In patients with splenomegaly (n = 17) and/or hepatomegaly (n = 28), liver and spleen volumes decreased in 6 months from 7% to 64% and 8% to 84% by 12 months, respectively. Hematologic and visceral improvements were noted at any doses between 60 and 15 IU/kg every 2 weeks. Furthermore, these positive initial therapeutic responses were persistent throughout therapy, with doses reduced by 50%. Pulmonary Gaucher disease did not improve clinically in 3 patients. Unrelated cirrhotic (n = 2), cholestatic (n = 1), or renal disease (n = 1) did not influence the rate of patient improvement. Two of five patients who developed serum antibodies against alglucerase during the first 6 to 12 months of therapy had mild antibody reactions. This study shows similar regression of clinical Gaucher disease manifestations with enzyme therapy, using doses between 30 and 60 IU/kg every 2 weeks. Therapeutic efficacy was not diminished after 50% to 75% dose reductions or in the presence of anti-enzyme antibodies.
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PMID:Enzyme therapy in Gaucher disease type 1: dosage efficacy and adverse effects in 33 patients treated for 6 to 24 months. 839 97

Gaucher disease (GD) is frequently associated with reduced plasma levels of low density lipoproteins, presumably due to increased catabolism of LDL. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of Tc-99m LDL (Tc-LDL) in Gaucher patients, and compare the findings to bone marrow distribution. Four patients with non-neuropathic Gaucher disease (type 1) underwent baseline whole body imaging at 4 and 24 h after injection of dialyzed autologous LDL labeled with 10-20 mCi Tc-99m-pertechnetate. Three of the four patients were treated with macrophage-targeted alglucerase (Ceredase). The LDL studies were compared to concurrent bone marrow scans performed with 10 mCi Tc-99m sulfur colloid (Tc-SC). Follow-up Tc-LDL and Tc-SC scans were obtained 12-14 months later. Tc-LDL activity was abnormally increased in the spleen and long bones of the upper and lower extremities. Liver activity was also increased. Prominent blood pool activity 4 h after injection mostly cleared on the 24-hour images. The distribution of Tc-SC was congruent with Tc-LDL activity. All patients had mild-to-moderate hepatomegaly and peripheral bone marrow expansion. One patient had been previously splenectomized and the remaining three had moderate-to-severe splenomegaly. Two of the three treated patients showed regression of peripheral bone marrow activity with therapy, along with a comparable decrease in Tc-LDL uptake. Our study with Tc-LDL and Tc-SC suggests that in patients with Gaucher disease native LDL is taken up by the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of the spleen and bone marrow in addition to increased uptake by the liver. This abnormal uptake (presumably by macrophages of the RES) may account for accelerated LDL catabolism and reduced plasma levels of LDL. Serial LDL studies can be performed, allowing for longitudinal follow-up after drug or enzyme therapies.
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PMID:Scintigraphic evaluation of Tc-99m-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) distribution in patients with Gaucher disease. 927 6

Gaucher's disease is the autosomally recessively inherited deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Increasing storage of glucocerebrosides leads to a multi-system disease which prevalence ranges between 1:30,000 and 1:50,000 in most countries. Thus only a minority of physicians are aware of this diagnosis, of the symptoms that should lead to its consideration, and of the availability of specific tests that confirm it. Because Gaucher's disease often affects the liver, hepatologists may care for Gaucher patients. This review provides the internist and hepatologist with practical information about recent advances in the management of the non-neuronopathic type I of Gaucher's disease. Gaucher's disease, type 1 should be considered when unexplained spleno- and hepatomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, or skeletal disease are present, particularly in combination. The diagnosis is established by an assay for glucocerebrosidase activity in peripheral leukocytes. Lack of awareness and of widespread availability of the enzyme assay has as yet limited its application in clinical practice, and led to many cases of Gaucher's disease being diagnosed by bone marrow and liver biopsy. Alglucerase, placental enzyme preparation of glucocerebrosidase, has proven effective in more than 1,000 patients worldwide. Recently, alglucerase has been exchanged by the recombinant enzyme preparation imiglucerase, which is equally effective and safe. Enzyme replacement improves hematological abnormalities, hepato-splenomegaly, and quality of life in a matter of a few months. Regression of skeletal complications is usually seen only after 3-4 years. Recently gene therapy trials, which center on autotransfusion of retrovirally transduced stem cells, have successfully been started.
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PMID:Gaucher's disease: a review for the internist and hepatologist. 1102 Aug 62

Advanced liver disease complicated by hepatopulmonary syndrome is a recognized complication of Gaucher disease. Macrophage-targeted, recombinant enzyme replacement therapy is effective in reversing clinical manifestations attributed to the accumulation of glycolipid-laden macrophages but it is not known whether advanced fibrotic features of the disease can be ameliorated. We describe a splenectomized patient with Gaucher disease who developed massive hepatomegaly, cirrhosis of the liver and life-threatening hepatopulmonary syndrome. Treatment with Imiglucerase enzyme replacement therapy resulted in dramatic reversal of hepatopulmonary syndrome and liver disease. Our report suggests that Gaucher disease pathology involving advanced fibrosis and life-threatening complications can be reversed by imiglucerase enzyme therapy.
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PMID:Reversal of life-threatening hepatopulmonary syndrome in Gaucher disease by imiglucerase enzyme replacement therapy. 3130 38