Cardiopulmonary assessment of patients diagnosed with Gaucher's disease type I

Understanding the basis of the phenotypic variation in Gaucher's disease (GD) has proven to be challenging for efficient treatment. The current study examined cardiopulmonary characteristics of patients with GD type 1.

Twenty Caucasian subjects (8/20 female) with diagnosed GD type I (GD-S) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (C), were assessed (mean age GD-S: 32.6 ± 13.1 vs. C: 36.2 ± 10.6, p > .05) before the initiation of treatment. Standard echocardiography at rest was used to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed on a recumbent ergometer using a ramp protocol.

LVEF was similar in both groups (GD-S: 65.1 ± 5.2% vs. C: 65.2 ± 5.2%, p > .05), as well as PAPS (24.1 ± 4.2 mmHg vs. C: 25.5 ± 1.3 mmHg, p > .05). GD-S had lower weight (p < .05) and worse CPET responses compared to C, including peak values of heart rate, oxygen consumption, carbondioxide production (VCO₂ ), end-tidal pressure of CO₂ , and O₂ pulse, as well as HR reserve after 3 min of recovery and the minute ventilation/VCO₂  slope.

Patients with GD type I have an abnormal CPET response compared to healthy controls likely due to the complex pathophysiologic process in GD that impacts multiple systems integral to the physiologic response to exercise.