An overview on bone manifestations in Gaucher disease

Gaucher disease (GD), the most prevalent lysosomal storage disorder, affects multiple organ systems. Patients with non-neuronopathic (type 1) GD, the most common form of GD, present with hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, anemia, bleeding tendencies, thrombocytopenia, skeletal pathologies, growth retardation, and, in severe cases, pulmonary disease. The bone manifestations include bone infarcts, avascular bone necrosis, lytic lesions, osteosclerosis, fractures due to osteopenia or osteoporosis, and rarely acute osteomyelitis. Bone pain of varying intensity, fractures, and progressive joint collapses may cause impaired mobility and performances status, and increased morbidity. Enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy have demonstrated to have beneficial effects on bone pain, bone crises, and the extent of osteoporosis. This review article gives an overview of the clinical appearance of bone pathology in GD, the possible pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, and the therapeutic effects of enzyme replacement therapy, substrate reduction therapy, and bone specific therapies as evaluated in current literature.