newborn screening

Newborn screening is uncovering signs of Pompe disease in infants months or even years before obvious symptoms appear, allowing for early treatment that can normalize markers of muscle damage, according to new research. A study tracking seven children with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) found that starting enzyme…

Children with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) who start enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) within the first month of life have healthier hearts than those who start the treatment later, a study found. “Our findings support the benefit of early ERT initiation in IOPD, particularly for cardiac outcomes,” the researchers…

I still remember the phone call as if it were frozen in time. It was mid-morning, and I was in bed feeding my newborn, Caroline. With the shades slightly drawn, just a sliver of light crept in, letting us both cozy up and drift off. Caroline was only a week…

Pompe disease patients bear a substantial burden from coexisting conditions and the ongoing need for supportive care, despite treatment with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), a real-world study in the U.S. found. Researchers also found a relatively high rate of ERT discontinuation, particularly among people with late-onset Pompe…

Parents face significant anxiety and uncertainty after their newborn screens positive for a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) like Pompe disease, but these emotions usually resolve over time once families receive clear, comprehensive information, a new study finds. However, researchers warn that this anxiety often persists in parents whose children…

A newborn whose symptoms initially mimicked oxygen deprivation was ultimately diagnosed with Pompe disease, highlighting potential challenges in identifying the condition, according to a case report from Italy. This was an uncommon presentation, according to researchers, who described the child’s symptoms, which included an enlarged heart and weak…

Estimates of the number people diagnosed with Pompe disease vary widely across regions, with notably higher rates in populations of African descent, a study review found. The researchers attributed the variability to underlying genetic differences as well as inconsistencies in diagnostic criteria, newborn screening methods, and disease classification depending…

A two-step process used to screen thousands of people with suspected Pompe disease led to diagnoses of the rare genetic condition in more than 700 individuals across 50-plus nations, a new retrospective study reports. The researchers used both biochemical and genetic testing to analyze more than 30,000 blood-spot…

A newborn screening program for Pompe disease in Minnesota was found effective for getting babies with infantile-onset disease started on early treatment, but challenges remain for those with late-onset disease (LOPD). “The management of LOPD cases including the establishment of standardized follow up guidelines … and a better…

In the United States, every child gets tested for a multitude of rare diseases and conditions at birth. However, each state picks and chooses which rare diseases and conditions they’ll screen for. Pennsylvania, where I live, added Pompe disease to their newborn screening panel in February 2016, a…