Acute Neuronopathic Gaucher Disease Complicated by Fatal Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Abstract

Gaucher disease, a rare lysosomal storage disease caused by deficiency of glucocerebrosidase, may present with gastrointestinal bleeding. We report about an 11-month-old boy suffering from acute neuronopathic Gaucher disease who died after massive gastrointestinal bleeding. A gastric ulcer was found as the sole bleeding source. The gastric mucosa showed marked infiltration with Gaucher cells, in particular around the ulcer. Alterations of the gastrointestinal mucosa offer a new explanation for gastrointestinal bleedings in this disease.

Key words

Gaucher disease - glucocerebrosidase - gastrointestinal bleeding - ulcer

References

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