A Japanese Patient with Gaucher Disease Treated with the Oral Drug Eliglustat as Substrate Reducing Therapy

We report here the case of a 31-year-old male Japanese patient with Gaucher disease who switched from enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) to substrate reducing therapy (SRT). Liver dysfunction was identi fied at a routine medical checkup, and the patient was referred to our hospital with “idiopathic liver disease.” Clinical laboratory tests indicated thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly, which are characteristic symptoms of Gaucher disease. To definitively diagnose Gaucher disease, a bone marrow bi opsy and acid β-glucosidase activity measurement were conducted; the results supported a diagnosis of Gaucher disease. This case emphasizes that it is possible for periodic medical checkups in adults to lead to the diagnosis of rare genetic disorders. The patient underwent ERT treatment with imiglu cerase for 5 years; the platelet count rapidly increased and the spleen size rapidly decreased, indicating a good response to the drug. However, the patient increasingly felt the burden of visiting the hospital for 2 h of infusion ERT every 2 weeks. Consequently, it was jointly decided that he shoul d switch from ERT to SRT with an oral drug. This switch was successful with no deterioration of laboratory data. This case report is the first to describe a Japanese Gaucher disease patient treated with eliglustat for #x3e;2 years. We showed that SRT is a well-tolerated and effective option for the treatment of Gaucher disease.Case Rep Gastroenterol 2021;15:838 –845
Source: Case Reports in Gastroenterology - Category: Gastroenterology Source Type: research