GAA gene

A stem-cell based gene therapy that’s modified for better entry into muscle cells was seen to normalize protein levels in the skeletal muscle tissue of a mouse model of Pompe disease, according to a new report. The Pompe mice exhibited altered levels of hundreds of proteins — including ones…

The prevalence of late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) in people across the U.S. and in Montreal, Canada, who lack an official diagnosis but have its characteristic neuromuscular symptoms — including neck and proximal muscle weakness or elevated creatine kinase levels (a marker of muscle damage)…

Deferoxamine, a medication normally used to remove excess iron and aluminum from the body, can counteract the effects of a disease-causing genetic variant often found in people with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). These findings highlight the potential of drug repurposing for the development of new therapies for LOPD,…

A skin biopsy is one of the tests that doctors can use to help diagnose Pompe disease, a rare genetic disease characterized by the buildup of complex sugar molecules called glycogen in muscle and other tissues. This buildup may interfere with function and cause the symptoms…

Transplanting blood stem cells modified to carry the GAA gene raised glycogen levels almost to normal across a range of organs, including the brain, and improved locomotion in a mouse model of Pompe disease, a study reported. These findings suggest that blood stem cell gene therapy, in which a patient’s…

Genetic testing looks for changes in genes and chromosomes that might indicate you have a genetic disease such as Pompe disease. Genetics of Pompe disease Pompe disease is caused by mutations in the GAA gene. These mutations lead to your cells not being able to properly make…

A small molecule called 3-BrPA was able to lower levels of glycogen — a complex sugar that builds up to toxic levels in Pompe disease — and ameliorate muscle and heart structural defects in a new zebrafish model of the genetic disorder, a recent study has shown.

To help patients and families facing out-of-pocket medical costs, The Assistance Fund (TAF) has opened a new program for eligible individuals living with Pompe disease. The program assists with treatment-related copayments, health insurance premiums and incidental medical expenses related to the metabolic disorder that affects roughly one in every…

A database with mutations associated with Pompe disease has been extended and links different gene variants with their potential clinical severity to better predict outcomes. The study, “Extension of the Pompe mutation database by linking disease-associated variants to clinical severity,” appeared in the journal Human…

Scientists have discovered a genetic variant that might help explain why some people with Pompe disease experience their first symptoms earlier or later in life. The study, “A genetic modifier of symptom onset in Pompe disease,” was published in EBioMedicine. Pompe disease is a rare genetic…