News

Twins do well on high-dose ERT plus immune tolerance induction

Early immune tolerance induction with rituximab, methotrexate, and intravenous (into-the-vein) immunoglobulin may have prevented twin babies with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) from developing antibodies against enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), according to a case report from the U.S. The report, “Optimizing clinical outcomes: The journey of twins with CRIM-negative…

New imaging technique may better monitor muscle disease than MRI

A new noninvasive imaging technique was found to be better than standard approaches like MRI or ultrasound for visualizing diseased muscles in people with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), according to a recent study. The technique, called multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT), uses light and sound waves to visualize the deeper…

LOPD patients with difficulty swallowing need support: Study

Difficulty swallowing is a common problem for adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) and can have a sizeable impact on their quality of life, yet most of these patients aren’t receiving specialty care to address this issue, according to a recent study. Researchers noted that clinicians caring for LOPD…

Metabolic processes altered in Pompe disease muscles: Study

Several metabolic processes in Pompe disease muscles are altered, according to a detailed examination of gene activity in muscle cells from adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). The changes, many of which occur in early disease progression, included a switch from energy production based on glucose to fat-like lipids…

Methotrexate lowers enzyme replacement therapy antibodies

Two girls in Colombia with early-onset Pompe disease saw their symptoms improve after methotrexate treatment reduced the levels of antibodies they had developed against enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), according to a case report. ERT antibodies can cause the therapy to stop working. Methotrexate, a chemotherapy, can work as an…

Mexican Pompe patients carry 2 GAA gene mutations: Study

People with Pompe disease examined for a study in Mexico carried a combination of GAA gene mutations associated with both infantile and adult-onset types of the disease, a finding the authors said may be related to the genetic diversity of the Mexican population. “Further population-wide studies are required to…