Health Encyclopedia

von Gierke disease

Definition

Von Gierke disease is a condition in which the body cannot break down glycogen. Glycogen is a form of sugar (glucose) that is stored in the liver and muscles. It is normally broken down into glucose to give you more energy when you need it.

Von Gierke disease is also called Type I glycogen storage disease (GSD I).

Alternative Names

Type I glycogen storage disease; von Gierke's disease

Causes

Von Gierke disease occurs when the body lacks the protein (enzyme) that releases glucose from glycogen. This causes abnormal amounts of glycogen to build up in certain tissues. When glycogen is not broken down properly, it leads to low blood sugar.

Von Gierke disease is inherited, which means it is passed down through families. If both parents carry a nonworking copy of the gene related to this condition, each of their children has a 25% (1 in 4) chance of developing the disease.

Symptoms

These are symptoms of von Gierke disease:

Constant hunger and need to eat often
Easy bruising and nosebleeds
Fatigue
Irritability
Puffy cheeks, thin chest and limbs, and swollen belly

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam.

The exam may show signs of:

Delayed puberty
Enlarged liver
Gout
Inflammatory bowel disease
Liver tumors
Severe low blood sugar
Stunted growth or failure to grow

Children with this condition are usually diagnosed before age 1 year.

Tests that may be done include:

If a person has this disease, test results will show low blood sugar and high levels of lactate (produced from lactic acid), blood fats (lipids), and uric acid.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to avoid low blood sugar. Eat frequently during the day, especially foods that contain carbohydrates (starches). Older children and adults may take cornstarch by mouth to increase their carbohydrate intake.

In some children, a feeding tube is placed through their nose into the stomach throughout the night to provide sugars or uncooked cornstarch. The tube can be taken out each morning. Alternatively, a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) can be placed to deliver food directly to the stomach overnight.

A medicine to lower uric acid in the blood and decrease the risk for gout may be prescribed. Your provider may also prescribe medicines to treat kidney disease, high lipids, and to increase the cells that fight infection.

People with von Gierke disease cannot properly break down fruit or milk sugar. It is best to avoid these products.

Support Groups

More information and support for people with von Gierke disease and their families can be found at:

Association for Glycogen Storage Disease -- www.agsdus.org

Outlook (Prognosis)

With treatment, growth, puberty, and quality of life have improved for people with von Gierke disease. Those who are identified and carefully treated at a young age can live into adulthood.

Early treatment also decreases the rate of severe problems such as:

Gout
Kidney failure
Life-threatening low blood sugar
Liver tumors

Possible Complications

These complications can occur:

Frequent infection
Gout
Kidney failure
Liver tumors
Osteoporosis (thinning bones)
Seizures, lethargy, confusion due to low blood sugar
Short height
Underdeveloped secondary sexual characteristics (breasts, pubic hair)
Ulcers of the mouth or bowel

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if you have a family history of glycogen storage disease or early infant death due to low blood sugar.

Prevention

There is no simple way to prevent glycogen storage disease.

Couples who wish to have a baby may seek genetic counseling and testing to determine their risk for passing on von Gierke disease.

References

Bonnardeaux A, Bichet DG. Inherited disorders of the renal tubule. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Taal MW, Skorecki K, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 44.

Kishnani PS, Chen Y-T. Defects in metabolism of carbohydrates. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 105.

Litwack G. Glycogen and glycogenolysis. In: Litwack G, ed. Human Biochemistry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 7.

Santos BL, Souza CF, Schuler-Faccini L, et al. Glycogen storage disease type 1: clinical and laboratory profile. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2014;90(6):572-579. PMID: 25019649 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25019649/.

Review Date:4/24/2023
Reviewed By:Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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