Certain protein modifications may enhance the ability of a therapeutically-delivered acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme to be secreted and taken up by neighboring cells in models of Pompe disease, a study suggested. Such approaches could offer ways to improve the effectiveness of gene therapies for Pompe, although more work is…
A small study in the U.K. is evaluating a noninvasive MRI-based tool that could potentially detect late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) without the need for invasive muscle biopsies. This specialized muscle MRI also would monitor glycogen buildup — a hallmark of the condition — in muscles over time. The…
Administrating a stem cell gene therapy before beginning enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) prevented the development of antibodies against the acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme, improved survival, and enhanced therapeutic benefits in a mouse model of Pompe disease, a recent study found. “Together, this study indicates that [stem cell] gene therapy induces…
Lower urinary tract symptoms, including a loss of bladder control and unusual urine flow, are prevalent among children with classic infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) who begin treatment early with enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT), according to a small study. Findings suggest that “pediatricians should actively seek to recognize children with IOPD…
The six-minute walk distance (6MWD) test is a reliable measure of declines in motor abilities in people with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), a two-year study that evaluated a series of such tests reported. Other common measures of motor function and muscle strength failed to reliably detect such changes in…
Macroglossia, or an abnormally enlarged tongue, caused difficulty swallowing, speech abnormalities, and reduced breathing during sleep for five people with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), according to a recent French study. Treatment with enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT), a standard of care for Pompe patients, did not alleviate the debilitating symptoms,…
The 9th annual International Pompe Day will be celebrated on April 15 to raise global awareness of Pompe disease and highlight the strength and resilience of the patient community. The event, with the slogan “Together We are Strong,” is organized by the International Pompe Association (IPA) — a…
Long-term treatment with Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa) — marketed in the U.S. as Lumizyme — results in variable but satisfactory motor and respiratory outcomes among older adults recently diagnosed with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), a study from Germany reported. According to its researchers, these findings were…
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