Long-term use of Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa), marketed as Lumizyme in the U.S., helped individuals with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) maintain their ability to walk and breathe, while remaining generally safe and well tolerated over 15 years, according to a study in Italy. While responses varied, fewer than expected…
Research
Reduced activity of the COL13A1 gene, which codes for a protein involved in the communication between nerves and muscles, may contribute to the neuromuscular dysfunction and muscle weakness seen in people with Pompe disease, a new study suggests. This gene’s activity seems to be mediated by levels of glucose…
A 43-year-old woman who was experiencing breathing problems and muscle weakness was eventually diagnosed with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) through genetic testing, highlighting the challenges of diagnosing the condition due to its rarity and nonspecific symptoms, according to a study. “It is important to consider late-onset Pompe disease in…
Researchers defined a threshold for improvements in lung function that adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) perceive as clinically meaningful when treated with enzyme replacement therapies. A study found that when thresholds were applied to data from the Phase 3 COMET study, more Pompe patients treated with the…
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 new type of substrate reduction therapy composed of antisense oligonucleotides, or ASOs, effectively reduces glycogen accumulation in the skeletal muscles, or those attached to bones, of a Pompe disease mouse model, a study found. When combined with standard enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), which showed limited…
Gene and enzyme replacement therapies for Pompe disease improved breathing and limb strength in a mouse model of the disease, a study showed. The researchers said the improvement was associated with glycogen clearance in the tongue, the lungs, and the diaphragm, the main muscle involved in respiratory control. Glycogen…
A test that measures walking speed over 10 meters (33 feet) offers a simpler and less demanding alternative to the commonly used six-minute walk test for evaluating walking performance in Pompe disease, and may be a better option for patients who have difficulty covering longer distances. In a French…
Involvement in the brain and spinal cord’s white matter is common in Pompe disease, particularly in the infantile-onset form, according to a review of published studies. Other affected parts of the brain and spinal cord, or central nervous system (CNS), were the gray matter and blood vessels in the…
A genomic medicine designed to correct the genetic defect found in up to 90% of people with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) worked as intended in patient-derived muscle cells and a mouse model, according to a study. The study, “Splicing correction by peptide-conjugated morpholinos as a novel…
Recent Posts
- How my daughter’s medical backpack became a symbol of freedom
- Lung function test may catch respiratory issues in late-onset Pompe
- Wanting to blend in, so the rare care isn’t the first thing that’s seen
- Home enzyme replacement therapy safe for Pompe disease children
- What ‘lucky’ really means for a child with Pompe disease