symptoms

Damage to the blood vessels in the brain is a common but under-recognized manifestation of late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), according to a recent study from China. Among a small group of LOPD patients, various abnormalities were observed that affected both small and large blood vessels. Given the observed prevalence…

Difficulty swallowing is a common problem for adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) and can have a sizeable impact on their quality of life, yet most of these patients aren’t receiving specialty care to address this issue, according to a recent study. Researchers noted that clinicians caring for LOPD…

Last week, my two sons — Cayden, 6, and Kyree, 18 months — and I had our routine checkup at the dentist. I’m happy to report that no one had cavities! Luckily, my boys enjoy brushing their teeth and never go to bed without reminding me to get their…

Dysfunction of the phrenic nerve, which is important for controlling breathing, was observed in a small study of late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) patients who had ongoing respiratory dysfunction despite enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). “Our study provide new insights regarding respiratory mechanisms in LOPD,” the researchers wrote. Should their…

Most people with classic infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) develop brain abnormalities despite treatment with Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa), and these abnormalities are associated with poorer results on cognitive tests. That’s according to a study, “Long term survival in patients with classic infantile Pompe disease reveals a…

My 5-year-old son, Cayden, has been seeing an otolaryngologist, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, for years. The first visit was suggested by his metabolic doctors, the ones who manage his infantile-onset Pompe disease. Pompe disease can lead to hearing loss, so they wanted to…

Despite being on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for a long time, some children with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) can still develop problems in the brain and spinal cord, a small study suggests. Manifestations such as overactive bodily reflexes, encephalopathy (damage to the brain), and…

Mitochondria dysfunction is linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — when the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently — in people with Pompe disease, according to a new study from China. The disease-causing mechanisms were explored in a patient-derived heart cell model with characteristics of Pompe disease, including low…

Three new mutations in the GAA gene were linked with heart disease and severe breathing problems in infants with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) in Malaysia, a study reports. “The novel mutations identified in this study expands the mutation spectrum for IOPD,” the researchers wrote. Also, among the 17 IOPD patients…

The strength of hip muscles and gait wherein only one leg is in contact with the ground were identified as key parameters that affect walking and falls in people with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). Both could help assess the effectiveness of new therapies and should be “priority targets for…