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This retrospective study in 20 untreated type I Gaucher disease patients shows that in Dutch patients clinical manifestations of Gaucher disease type I are progressive in the majority of patients, children as well as adults. This is in contrast with studies among Jewish patients. Our results emphasize the need for a regular follow-up to enable timely initiation of enzyme therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A boy born at full-term died after 14 days from cardiac failure. At autopsy DiGeorge complex was diagnosed. The father was found to have facial dysmorphia and hypocalcaemia. Investigations revealed no cause other than hypoparathyroidism associated with normal serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations and normal renal handling of phosphate. Immunological tests, performed on two occasions with an interval of 9 months, revealed a decrease in the number of CD8+ lymphocytes, compatible with a partial thymus deficiency. The combination of facial dysmorphia with dysfunction of the thymus and the parathyroid glands can constitute a partial DiGeorge complex. The findings in this family are compared with reports of four other families with DiGeorge complex in two generations. In genetic counseling DiGeorge complex should be considered a heterogenous disorder. Screening of the parents for somatic stigmata, hypocalcaemia, disturbed cellular immunity, cardiac and chromosomal abnormalities is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2.5-year-old girl presented with severely delayed speech development and mild motor retardation. Urinary organic acid analysis showed the presence of 4-hydroxybutyric acid and other metabolites consistent with the diagnosis 4-hydroxybutyric aciduria. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity was absent in lymphocyte lysates. The clinical symptoms in this case were unusually mild compared to previously reported patients. No correlation was found between the mild symptoms and the levels of metabolite excretion or the residual succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity in this patient compared to more severely affected cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]