Risk factors

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…

Infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, led to mild symptoms and no hospitalizations in people diagnosed with Pompe disease, a small Dutch study reports. However, since the patients had mild disease and were relatively young, more study is needed to assess outcomes in this population, the researchers…

Although my 3-year-old son, Cayden, loves preschool, I had to make a tough decision not to send him for a while. We have officially entered cold and flu season. While most parents don’t look forward to this time of year, it’s especially terrifying for me. Cayden’s infantile-onset Pompe disease…

Based on a literature and database analysis, the predicted genetic prevalence of disease-related variants in the GAA gene — the underlying cause of Pompe disease — is higher in the Korean population than in Japanese, a study indicates. The study, “Two Approaches for a Genetic Analysis…

The number of people with Pompe disease varies according to ethnic group and may be higher among all ethnicities than previously estimated, a study suggests. According to the investigator, the study stresses the importance of analyzing genetic disorders in the general population to improve predictive and preventive medicine. “With this…

At a recent webinar, experts cautioned that it could be dangerous for people with Pompe disease to stop treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The disease that would come to be called COVID-19 was first reported in the U.S. more than a year ago. As it spread across…

If you, your partner, or anyone else in the family has Pompe disease, you may wonder whether the disorder also will affect your future children. Genetic counseling can help you calculate the risk and help you with genetic testing and family planning. What do genetic counselors do? Genetic…

Pompe disease is a rare disorder caused by mutations in a gene called GAA, which provides instructions for making an important enzyme called acid alpha-glucosidase (also known as acid maltase). This enzyme is responsible for breaking down a sugar molecule called glycogen to provide energy to…

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,”…

Newborn screening for lysosomal storage disorders, including Pompe disease, is much more likely to detect individuals at risk for late-onset disease, according to a four-fear analysis of data from a pilot newborn screening program. The study “The New York pilot newborn screening program for lysosomal storage diseases: Report of the…