Significance of early diagnosis and treatment of adult late-onset Pompe disease on the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy in improving muscle strength and respiratory function: a case report.
{"title":"Significance of early diagnosis and treatment of adult late-onset Pompe disease on the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy in improving muscle strength and respiratory function: a case report.","authors":"Moein Mir, Kianmehr Rouhani, Kiana Rouhani, Mohammadjavad Hassani, Mohammadrafi Damirchi, Sajjad Yazdansetad, Mehrdad Aghaei","doi":"10.1186/s13256-024-04837-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pompe disease, a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is caused by mutations in the acid α-glucosidase gene. Pompe disease is a congenital metabolic disorder that affects all organs, particularly the striated muscle and nerve cells. Diagnosis is typically confirmed through enzyme assays that reveal reduced acid α-glucosidase activity. Enzyme replacement therapy utilizing human α-glucosidase is an available treatment option. Timely diagnosis and treatment in the early stages of the disease significantly impact the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy in enhancing patient condition. Here, we present a case of a patient with Pompe disease diagnosed 20 years after the onset of clinical symptoms.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 38-year-old Iranian Baloch woman referred to our rheumatology clinic with progressive muscle weakness presents with a complex medical history. On mechanical ventilation for 12 years, she has endured fatigue and limb weakness since the age of 16, exacerbated following an abortion at 19. Despite undergoing corticosteroid and azathioprine therapies, the suspected diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy did not yield improvement. Hospitalization at 23 due to respiratory failure post-pregnancy led to her continued reliance on a ventilator. A dried blood spot test indicated reduced GAA enzyme activity, confirming a diagnosis of Pompe disease through genetic testing. Treatment with myozyme for 2 years demonstrated limited efficacy, as the patient experienced improved breathing but no significant overall improvement in limb-girdle muscular weakness. This case underscores the challenges and complexities involved in diagnosing and managing rare neuromuscular disorders like Pompe disease.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Early intervention with enzyme replacement therapy plays a crucial role in halting further muscle loss and disease progression in Pompe disease patients. It is important to note that treatment during advanced stages of the disease may not yield substantial benefits. Nevertheless, enzyme instability and denaturation due to temperature and neutral pH levels, along with limited delivery to disease-relevant tissues, can pose challenges in treatment. However, timely diagnosis of Pompe disease is paramount for its effective management and improved outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16236,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Medical Case Reports","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11459847/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Medical Case Reports","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-024-04837-0","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
Background: Pompe disease, a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is caused by mutations in the acid α-glucosidase gene. Pompe disease is a congenital metabolic disorder that affects all organs, particularly the striated muscle and nerve cells. Diagnosis is typically confirmed through enzyme assays that reveal reduced acid α-glucosidase activity. Enzyme replacement therapy utilizing human α-glucosidase is an available treatment option. Timely diagnosis and treatment in the early stages of the disease significantly impact the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy in enhancing patient condition. Here, we present a case of a patient with Pompe disease diagnosed 20 years after the onset of clinical symptoms.
Case presentation: A 38-year-old Iranian Baloch woman referred to our rheumatology clinic with progressive muscle weakness presents with a complex medical history. On mechanical ventilation for 12 years, she has endured fatigue and limb weakness since the age of 16, exacerbated following an abortion at 19. Despite undergoing corticosteroid and azathioprine therapies, the suspected diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy did not yield improvement. Hospitalization at 23 due to respiratory failure post-pregnancy led to her continued reliance on a ventilator. A dried blood spot test indicated reduced GAA enzyme activity, confirming a diagnosis of Pompe disease through genetic testing. Treatment with myozyme for 2 years demonstrated limited efficacy, as the patient experienced improved breathing but no significant overall improvement in limb-girdle muscular weakness. This case underscores the challenges and complexities involved in diagnosing and managing rare neuromuscular disorders like Pompe disease.
Conclusion: Early intervention with enzyme replacement therapy plays a crucial role in halting further muscle loss and disease progression in Pompe disease patients. It is important to note that treatment during advanced stages of the disease may not yield substantial benefits. Nevertheless, enzyme instability and denaturation due to temperature and neutral pH levels, along with limited delivery to disease-relevant tissues, can pose challenges in treatment. However, timely diagnosis of Pompe disease is paramount for its effective management and improved outcomes.
期刊介绍:
JMCR is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that will consider any original case report that expands the field of general medical knowledge. Reports should show one of the following: 1. Unreported or unusual side effects or adverse interactions involving medications 2. Unexpected or unusual presentations of a disease 3. New associations or variations in disease processes 4. Presentations, diagnoses and/or management of new and emerging diseases 5. An unexpected association between diseases or symptoms 6. An unexpected event in the course of observing or treating a patient 7. Findings that shed new light on the possible pathogenesis of a disease or an adverse effect