The role of the iminosugar N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (miglustat) in the management of type I (non-neuronopathic) Gaucher disease:: A position statement

N- Butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB- DNJ, miglustat 'Zavesca') is an orally active iminosugar which inhibits the biosynthesis of macromolecular substrates that accumulate pathologically in glycosphingolipidoses. Clinical trials of NB- DNJ in patients with Gaucher's disease demonstrate the therapeutic potential of such substrate inhibitors in the glycolipid storage disorders. However, macrophage-targetted enzyme replacement using intravenous mannose-terminated human glucocerebrosidase (imiglucerase, Cerezyme) is highly effective in ameliorating many of the manifestations of Gaucher's disease and is a treatment in widespread use. Given that imiglucerase and miglustat are now both licensed for the treatment of Gaucher's disease, there is a need to review their therapeutic status. Here the treatment of type 1 (non-neuronopathic) Gaucher disease is evaluated with particular reference to the emerging role of oral N- butyldeoxynojirimycin (miglustat) as a substrate-reducing agent. This position statement represents the consensus viewpoint of an independent international advisory council to the European Working Group on Gaucher Disease.