Enfermedad de Gaucher en Latinoamérica: Un informe del Registro Internacional y del Grupo Latinoamericano para la Enfermedad de Gaucher / Gaucher disease in Latin America: A report from the Gaucher Disease International Registry and the Latin Americam Group for Gaucher Disease

La enfermedad de Gaucher, por su escasa frecuencia, está incluida dentro de las llamadas enfermedades huérfanas. En 1991 se creó el Registro Internacional de Gaucher y en 1992 se incorporaron los primeros pacientes de Latinoamérica. En el año 2008 se creó el Grupo Latinoamericano para la Enfermedad de Gaucher (GLAEG) cuyos principales objetivos son fomentar la realización de consensos regionales, difundir el ingreso de pacientes al registro internacional y aumentar el conocimiento sobre la enfermedad para lograr mejorar la atención y la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Hasta abril del 2010 ingresaron 5828 pacientes de todo el mundo, 911 (15.6%) son de Latinoamérica. Este es el primer informe global de la enfermedad en la Región: hay un predominio del sexo femenino, la forma clínica más frecuente es el tipo I (95%); al diagnóstico la mayoría son <20 años (68%). Las manifestaciones clínicas más frecuentes al diagnóstico son esplenomegalia (96%) y anemia (49%), el 80% presentó hallazgos radiológicos de compromiso óseo. En nuestra Región, la gran mayoría de los pacientes (89%) ha recibido alguna vez terapia de reemplazo enzimática con imiglucerasa logrando, con un seguimiento prolongado (hasta10 años), las metas terapéuticas que muestran la gran eficacia de la terapia. Si bien el porcentaje de pacientes con terapia es alto, las suspensiones de tratamiento son frecuentes. Las principales deficiencias en nuestra Región son: la carencia de evaluaciones viscerales volumétricas, de densitometría y de estudios moleculares en algunos pacientes. El principal problema es el subdiagnóstico.

Gaucher disease -due to its low frequency- is considered an orphan disease. In 1991 the International Gaucher Registry was created and in 1992 the first patients from Latin America were enrolled. In 2008 the Latin American Group for Gaucher Disease was initiated. Its main objectives are to promote regional consensus, to stimulate the enrolment of patients into the International Gaucher Registry and the enhancement of knowledge on this disease, and to achieve better care and quality of life of patients in our Region. Until April 2010, 5828 patients have been enrolled all around the world, 911 (15.6%) from Latin America. This is the first comprehensive report of the disease in the Region. In our population there is a predominance of females, the most common clinical form is the type I (95%) and the age at diagnosis is before 20 years in 68% of patients. The most frequent clinical manifestations at diagnosis are splenomegaly (96%) and anemia (49%). Eighty percent of patients had radiographic findings of bone involvement. In our Region, the vast majority of patients (89%) had received enzyme replacement therapy with imiglucerase; with a long follow-up (up to 10 years) they have achieved the therapeutic goals, showing the great effectiveness of therapy. While the percentage of patients with therapy is high, discontinuations are common. The main deficiencies in our Region are: the lack of visceral volumetric evaluations and densitometries as well as molecular analysis for some patients. The main problem is the under-diagnosis of patients.

Mucopolysaccharidosis I, II, and VI: brief review and guidelines for treatment

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are rare genetic diseases caused by the deficiency of one of the lysosomal enzymes involved in the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) breakdown pathway. This metabolic block leads to the accumulation of GAG in various organs and tissues of the affected patients, resulting in a multisystemic clinical picture, sometimes including cognitive impairment. Until the beginning of the XXI century, treatment was mainly supportive. Bone marrow transplantation improved the natural course of the disease in some types of MPS, but the morbidity and mortality restricted its use to selected cases. The identification of the genes involved, the new molecular biology tools and the availability of animal models made it possible to develop specific enzyme replacement therapies (ERT) for these diseases. At present, a great number of Brazilian medical centers from all regions of the country have experience with ERT for MPS I, II, and VI, acquired not only through patient treatment but also in clinical trials. Taking the three types of MPS together, over 200 patients have been treated with ERT in our country. This document summarizes the experience of the professionals involved, along with the data available in the international literature, bringing together and harmonizing the information available on the management of these severe and progressive diseases, thus disclosing new prospects for Brazilian patients affected by these conditions.

Terapia de reposição enzimática para as mucopolissacaridoses I, II e VI: recomendações de um grupo de especialistas brasileiros / Enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidoses I, II and VI: recommendations from a group of Brazilian F experts

As mucopolissacaridoses (MPS) são doenças genéticas raras causadas pela deficiência de enzimas lisossômicas específicas que afetam o catabolismo de glicosaminoglicanos (GAG). O acúmulo de GAG em vários órgãos e tecidos nos pacientes afetados pelas MPS resulta em uma série de sinais e sintomas, integrantes de um quadro clínico multissistêmico que compromete ossos e articulações, vias respiratórias, sistema cardiovascular e muitos outros órgãos e tecidos, incluindo, em alguns casos, as funções cognitivas. Já foram identificados 11 defeitos enzimáticos que causam sete tipos diferentes de MPS. Antes do advento de terapias dirigidas para a restauração da atividade da enzima deficiente, o tratamento das MPS tinha como principal foco a prevenção e o cuidado das complicações, aspecto ainda bastante importante no manejo desses pacientes. Na década de 80 foi proposto o tratamento das MPS com transplante de medula óssea/transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas (TMO/TCTH) e na década de 90 começou o desenvolvimento da Terapia de Reposição Enzimática (TRE), que se tornou uma realidade aprovada para uso clínico nas MPS I, II e VI na primeira década do século 21. Os autores deste trabalho têm a convicção de que um melhor futuro para os pacientes afetados pelas MPS depende da identificação, compreensão e manejo adequado das manifestações multissistêmicas dessas doenças, incluindo medidas de suporte (que devem fazer parte da assistência multidisciplinar regular destes pacientes) e terapias específicas...

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are rare genetic diseases caused by deficiency of specific lysosomal enzymes that affect catabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Accumulation of GAG in various organs and tissues in MPS patients results in a series of signs and symptoms, producing a multisystemic condition affecting bones and joints, the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and many other organs and tissues, including in some cases, cognitive performance. So far, eleven enzyme defects that cause seven different types of MPS have been identified. Before introduction of therapies to restore deficient enzyme activity, treatment of MPS focused primnarily on prevention and care of complications, still a very important aspect in the management of these patients. In the 80's treatment of MPS with bone marrow transplantation/hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (BMT/HSCT) was proposed and in the 90's, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT),began to be developed and was approved for clinical use in MPS I, II and VI in the first decade of the 21st century. The authors of this paper are convinced that a better future for patients affected by mucopolysaccharidoses depends upon identifying, understanding and appropriately managing the multisystemic manifestations of these diseases. This includes the provision of support measures (which should be part of regular multidisciplinary care of these patients) and of specific therapies...

Tratamento da doença de Gaucher: um consenso brasileiro / Gaucher disease treatment: a Brazilian consensus

A doença de Gaucher (DG) é um erro inato do metabolismo do grupo das doenças lisossômicas de depósito, sendo a mais freqüente do referido grupo. É de herança autossômica recessiva, portanto com risco de 25 por cento a cada gestação de casal heterozigoto. A doença é resultante da deficiência da beta-glicosidase ácida ou beta-glicocerebrosidase, que leva ao acúmulo de glicolipídios nos macrófagos principalmente em baço, fígado, medula óssea e pulmão. As manifestações clínicas ou fenotípicas da DG vão depender do grau de deficiência da enzima, existindo três tipos: Tipo I, forma não neuropática, afeta crianças e adultos com hepatoesplenomegalia, anemia, trombocitopenia, leucopenia e lesões ósseas; Tipo II, forma neuropática aguda, afeta crianças com 4-5 meses com quadro neurológico grave, hepatoesplenomegalia e comprometimento pulmonar e o Tipo III, forma neuropática crônica, afeta crianças e adolescentes com quadro neurológico menos grave que o Tipo II e ainda pode comprometer fígado, baço e ossos. Um grupo de catorze médicos com experiência no tratamento da DG com reposição enzimática realizaram extensa revisão da literatura, confrontaram com os dados evolutivos dos pacientes brasileiros e chegaram a um consenso quanto aos critérios para iniciar o tratamento, a dose da enzima e freqüência das infusões, do acompanhamento ambulatorial, laboratorial e radiológico. O Grupo Brasileiro de Estudos em Doença de Gaucher e outras Doenças de Depósito Lisossômico (GBDDL) tem o objetivo de estabelecer diretrizes para o diagnostico, tratamento e acompanhamento de pacientes com doença de Gaucher no Brasil. Esta iniciativa pioneira visa uniformizar a conduta no país com relação ao tratamento de DG com reposição enzimática, tratamento de alto custo porém de grande eficácia