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Gaucher disease type 3

MIM.231000 1q21

Gaucher disease type III is the subacute form of neuronopathic Gaucher disease. It has later onset and slower progression compared to the acute form of neuronopathic Gaucher disease type 2 (MIM.230900).

Gaucher disease type III is caused by mutation in the gene encoding acid beta-glucosidase (GBA) (MIM. 606463).

2 phenotypic subgroups of Gaucher disease type III have been described:
- Gaucher disease type IIIA, characterized by myoclonus and dementia
- Gaucher disease type IIIB, characterized by early onset of isolated horizontal supranuclear gaze palsy and aggressive systemic disease
- Gaucher disease type IIIC (231005), associated with cardiovascular calcifications

Clinical synopsis

- autosomal recessive transmission
- highly variable phenotype
- onset: usually in childhood (range infancy to late childhood); Adult onset has been reported
- short stature
- decreased weight
- abnormal eye movements
- abnormal saccades
- supranuclear gaze palsy, horizontal (type IIIB)
- vertical ocular movements are usually preserved
- squint
- hepatomegaly
- splenomegaly
- subacute neurologic deterioration
- seizures
- delayed motor development
- intellectual deterioration
- speech abnormalities
- ataxia
- spastic paraparesis
- myoclonus (subtype 3A)
- myoclonic seizures (subtype 3A)
- dementia (subtype 3A)
- behavioral/psychiatric manifestations
- depression

Microscopical synopsis

- Gaucher cells in bone marrow

Biology

- pancytopenia
- thrombocytopenia
- decreased beta-glucocerebrosidase protein and activity

See also

- storage diseases