1st Edition

Gaucher Disease

Edited By Anthony H. Futerman, Ari Zimran Copyright 2006
    552 Pages
    by CRC Press

    552 Pages 16 Color & 94 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    In September of 2007 Gaucher Disease received a commendation in the Haematology category of the 2007 British Medical Association Medical Book Competition!

    Although rare in the general population, Gaucher disease is the most prevalent of the lysosomal storage disorders, making research into this particular orphan disorder an invaluable prototype for the diagnosis, research, and treatment of others. Like many rare conditions, Gaucher disease has benefited from the explosion of medical research in the last decade, the amount of new information on this disease is staggering and the rate of new discoveries has left previous books on the subject unable to provide useful, up-to-date information.

    The most current, fully comprehensive reference to date, Gaucher Disease provides valuable information for academic and industry scientists, and clinicians. Outlining the latest research on the biochemical mechanisms and pathology of lysosomal storage disorders, this book covers diverse topics including animal models, crystallography, imaging and radionuclide evaluation. It not only addresses the developmental basis for current treatments like the now widely available enzyme replacement therapy, but also includes chapters introducing new therapies on the horizon. With contributions from world-renowned experts in substrate reduction therapy, pharmaceutical chaperone therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy, as well as chapters on a second generation of enzyme replacement therapy, this book explores the full spectrum of possibilities offered by the most recent advances in medicine. Some of the most interesting aspects of the book include the discussions on patient management, those touching on the ethics of research, and the societal aspects of treating rare diseases with expensive therapy.

    Preface. Introduction. Molecular Biology. Enzymology. Prosaposin and Saposin. Enzyme 3D Structure. Cellular Pathogenesis of Gaucher Disease. Biochemistry of Glycolipids and Glucosylceramide. Understanding Gaucher Disease in the Context of other LSDs. Animal Models of GD. Clinical Features of Type 1. Clinical Features of Neurological Forms. Disease Pathology. Diagnosis and Laboratory Features. Diagnostic Imaging. Epidemiology and Screening Policy. ERT. SRT. Chaperone Therapy. New Expression Systems for 2nd Generation ERT. Blood Brain Barrier and Neuronopathic GD. BMT, Step Cell and Gene Therapy. Ethical Aspects. Societal Aspects. Medical Aspects. Pharma Aspects. Patient Perspective. Commentary and Summary.

    Biography

    Anthony H. Futerman, Ari Zimran