Abstract

DAZA CARDENAS, JORGE ARMANDO. VON GIERKE DISEASE: NEW TRENDS IN MANAGEMENT. rev.fac.med [online]. 2012, vol.20, n.2, pp.60-64. ISSN 0121-5256.

Von Gierke disease, also known as glycogen storage disease type Ia, is a disease caused by deficiency of the G6Pase-a catalytic unit, which hydrolyzes glucose-6- phosphate in the cell cytoplasm during gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. Long term complications include severe hypoglycemia and growth disturbances. In small children, the disease typically presents with seizure crisis and hepatomegaly which become manifest at the age of 6 and 8 months. Other complications include osteoporosis, gout, renal disease, pulmonary hypertension and hepatic adenomas which can become malignant. No cure has been found for this disease and it can turn out to be lethal if no appropriate management is given during the first two decades of life. The treatment consists of nutritional therapy associated with a number of conventional drugs. Some patients may require renal or liver transplant. A new hope has emerged with the arrival of gene therapy with viral vectors, strategy that is being developed hitherto, yet performed studies have shown a glimmer of hope for investigators, doctors and patients. There is a need for studies so these treatments allow for a longer term benefit and their application in humans since, as expected, the tests have been developed only in animal models.

Keywords : Glucose-6-phosphatase deficiency; von Gierke disease; glycogen storage disease type I (GSD I); transgenic therapy; hepatocellular carcinoma.

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