Biomarker for Gaucher Disease: BioGaucher (BioGaucher) (BioGaucher)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01331642 |
Recruitment Status :
Active, not recruiting
First Posted : April 8, 2011
Last Update Posted : April 3, 2020
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Condition or disease |
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Splenomegaly Hepatomegaly |
Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive hereditary lysosomal storage disorder. Occurrence of the disease is due to a hereditary deficiency of the Glucocerebrosidase, a lysosomal enzyme which divides Glucocerebroside into Glucose and Ceramides. The unmetabolised Glucocerebrosides are stored throughout the whole reticulo-endothelial system. Accumulation of Glycolipid-enriched macrophages establishes a pathoanatomical phenomenon, the so-called Gaucher cells, which can be verified by light microscopy of affected tissues. Activation markers of the macrophages, like the enzyme Chitotriosidase or CCL18, are parameters which follow the course of GD.
Gaucher disease is the most frequently inherited Sphingolipidosis in the general population, and in Ashkenazi Jews, in who the prevalence is much higher (1:450). The gene which codes the Glucocerebrosidase is on the long arm of chromosome 1 and covers 11 exons. So far, more than 200 different mutations in Gaucher patients have been described, mostly missense mutations. In addition, frame-shift- and splice-site-mutations have been detected, as well as insertions and deletions. More frequent mutations are N370S, L444P, IVS2+1G>A, c.84insG, R463C and R496H.
The clinical appearance is heterogeneous. The classical phenotype is characterised by visceral organ (Hepatosplenomegaly) and skeleton system (Bone marrow infiltrates up to bone infarcts and pathological fractures) affection. Moreover, consecutive blood cell count changes, Anemia and Thrombocytopenia are reported.
A serious distinction lies in the appearance of neurological manifestations (myoclonus epilepsy, hydrocephalus, ocular movement disturbances). There is discussion on whether the classification into the typical three disease types (type1: non-neuronopathic progress form, type2: acute neuronopathic progress form, type3: chronic neuronopathic progress form) is still up-to-date, since it does not sufficiently reflect the reality of the clinical presentation. A clear genotype-phenotype relationship does not exist. The same DNA mutations are detected in patients with pronounced differences in disease progression. The exception is the mutation N370S, which has so far been detected in connection with only visceral progress forms (type1). At least the outcome of the non-neuronopathic disorder cases could be improved by the introduction and general availability of enzyme therapy. Under this kind of therapy there is a reduction of liver and spleen size as well as a normalization of the haemogram parameters.
New methods, like mass-spectrometry give a good chance to characterize specific metabolic alterations in the blood (plasma) of affected patients that allow to diagnose in the future the disease earlier, with a higher sensitivity and specificity. In a pilot study lyso-glycosylsphingosine has been determined as a sensitive and specific biomarker (see attached manuscript). This is a metabolic product likely to be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. Therefore it is the goal of the study to validate this new biochemical marker from the blood of the affected patients helping to benefit other patients by an early diagnose and there-by with an earlier treatment.
Study Type : | Observational |
Estimated Enrollment : | 1000 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Biomarker for Gaucher Disease an International, Multicenter, Epidemiological Protocol |
Actual Study Start Date : | August 20, 2018 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | June 2021 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | June 2021 |

Group/Cohort |
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Observation
Patients with Gaucher disease or high-grade suspicion for Gaucher disease
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- Sequencing of the Gaucher disease related gene [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) of the GBA gene will be performed. The mutation will be confirmed by Sanger sequencing.
- The Gaucher disease specific biomarker candidates finding [ Time Frame: 24 months ]The quantitative determination of small molecules (molecular weight 150-700 kD, given as ng/μl) within a dried blood spot sample will be validated via liquid chromatography multiple reaction-monitoring mass spectrometry (LC/MRM-MS) and compared with a merged control cohort. The statistically best validated molecule will be considered as a disease specific biomarker.
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA
For the development of the new biomarkers using the technique of Mass-spectrometry, maximal 10 ml blood will be taken via using a dry blood spot filter card and will be ana-lysed. (Optionally, also 10 ml urine will be taken via urine-collection tube). To proof the correct Gaucher diagnosis in those patients where up to the enrollment in the study no genetic testing has been done, sequencing of Gaucher will be done.
The analyses will done at:
Centogene AG Am Strande 7 18055 Rostock Germany

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Ages Eligible for Study: | Child, Adult, Older Adult |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Sampling Method: | Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Informed consent will be obtained from the patient or the parents before any study related procedures.
- Patients of both gender from the first day of life
- The patient has a diagnosis of Gaucher disease or high-grade suspicion for Gaucher disease
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High-grade suspicion present, if one or more criteria are valid:
- - Positive family anamnesis for Gaucher disease
- - Splenomegaly without identifiable cause
- - Hepatomegaly without identifiable cause
- - Anemia or thrombocytopenia without identifiable cause
- - CNS involvement without identifiable cause
Exclusion Criteria:
- No Informed consent from the patient or the parents before any study related pro-cedures
- No diagnosis of Gaucher disease or no valid criteria for high-grade suspicion of Gaucher disease

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01331642
Germany | |
Centogene AG | |
Rostock, Germany, 18055 | |
India | |
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre | |
Cochin, Kerala, India, 682041 | |
Navi Mumbai Institute of Research In Mental And Neurological Handicap (NIRMAN) | |
Mumbai, India, 400705 | |
Sri Lanka | |
Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children | |
Colombo 8, Sri Lanka, 00800c |
Principal Investigator: | Arndt Rolfs, Prof. | Centogene AG Rostock |
Responsible Party: | Centogene AG Rostock |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01331642 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
BG 06-2018 |
First Posted: | April 8, 2011 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | April 3, 2020 |
Last Verified: | April 2020 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |
Gaucher Disease Biomarker |
Hepatomegaly Gaucher Disease Splenomegaly Sphingolipidoses Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn Brain Diseases, Metabolic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Metabolism, Inborn Errors |
Genetic Diseases, Inborn Lipidoses Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors Lysosomal Storage Diseases Metabolic Diseases Lipid Metabolism Disorders Hypertrophy Pathological Conditions, Anatomical Liver Diseases Digestive System Diseases |