No abstract

The aim of this work was to monitor the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy on the basis of the changes in T1 relaxation times in Gaucher patients. A total of 26 patients underwent MR before enzyme replacement therapy; of them, 18 have been followed-up. A total of 22 age-matched controls underwent the same MR study. Scans were focused on the femoral neck, and T1 relaxation times were measured by means of a mixed spin-echo inversion recovery sequence. The T1 relaxation times in Gaucher patients were significantly longer than normal (p < 0.05). After enzyme replacement therapy, T1 relaxation times gradually became closer to those of control subjects, and there was also a significant decrease (p < 0.01) with respect to values before therapy, probably due to an increase in the fat/water ratio. Evaluation of T1 relaxation time may supply a useful indication of Gaucher disease regression after enzyme replacement therapy particularly in those cases in which a normal skeletal appearance corresponds to prolonged T1 relaxation times.