late-onset Pompe disease

Pompe disease is a rare, progressive genetic disorder characterized by the abnormal buildup of a type of sugar called glycogen within the cells. Muscle weakness and fatigue are among the common symptoms of late-onset Pompe disease which can affect daily activities and overall quality of life. Here…

People with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) can develop damage to the nerves that run throughout their body, a recent case report about four patients shows. Such nerve damage in LOPD patients can worsen disability and needs special attention and care, such as physiotherapy. The report with those findings, “…

Muscle strength and function measurements in people with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) correlate with whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMRI) results, a new study suggests. The study, “Whole‐body MRI in Late‐onset Pompe Disease: Clinical utility and correlation with functional measures,” was published in the Journal of Inherited Metabolic…

Pompe is a type of glycogen storage disease in which a complex sugar molecule known as glycogen builds up within cells, especially in the muscle cells. A defect in the GAA gene causes low production of the acid alpha-glucosidase enzyme that is needed to break down glycogen into…

Natural genetic variations, or polymorphisms, in the ACE gene do not account for the large variability in disease course, or the response to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) observed among children and adults with Pompe disease, a study suggests. More research is needed to identify the…

Pharmaceutical executives rarely make for a sympathetic Hollywood medical drama. But John Crowley did, and in the nearly 10 years since the release of “Extraordinary Measures” — a tearjerker starring Brendan Fraser as Crowley and Harrison Ford as short-tempered scientist Robert Stonehill — biotech has seen a huge transformation, both…

Aging and vascular risk factors, not enzyme replacement therapy or the disease itself, may increase the risk of late-onset Pompe disease patients developing white matter lesions in the brain, a study suggests. The study, “White matter lesions in treated late onset Pompe disease are not different to matched controls,”…

Wearable technology that quantifies daily physical activity, such as FitBit One, can help determine mobility patterns and evaluate the clinical status of people with late-onset Pompe disease, a study shows. The study, “Mobility assessment using wearable technology in patients with late-onset Pompe disease,” was published…

Patients with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) should be followed regularly and start on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) if they develop symptoms, according to an analysis of available guidelines. The study, “Comparison of recent pivotal recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of late-onset Pompe disease using…

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showing an abnormally bright signal in the tongue is common among patients with late-onset Pompe disease, a study has found. This particular imaging feature may hold diagnostic potential as it seems to be specific to Pompe disease patients with muscle weakness, not being detected in…