Pompe Disease

Synonyms

• Acid Maltase Deficiency
• Alpha-1,4 Glucosidase Deficiency
• Cardiomegalia Glycogenica Diffusa
• Generalized Glycogenosis
• Glycogenosis Type II
• Lysosomal Glucosidase Deficiency

Disorder Subdivisions

• Glycogen Storage Disease Type II

General Discussion

Pompe disease is a glycogen storage disease. This rare inherited metabolic disorder is caused by an inborn lack of the enzyme alpha-1,4 glucosidase (lysosomal glucosidase; acid maltase), which is necessary to break down glycogen, a substance that is a source of energy for the body. This enzyme deficiency causes excess amounts of glycogen to accumulate in the lysosomes, which are structures within cells that break down waste products within the cell. The symptoms and physical findings of Pompe disease result from the abnormal accumulation of glycogen in the cells. Pompe disease is a single disease continuum with variable rates of disease progression. The infantile form is characterized by severe muscle weakness and abnormally diminished muscle tone (hypotonia) without muscle wasting, and usually manifests within the first few months of life. Additional abnormalities may include enlargement of the heart (cardiomegaly), the liver (hepatomegaly), and/or the tongue (macroglossia). Progressive cardiac failure usually causes life-threatening complications by the age of 12 to 18 months. The childhood form usually begins during late infancy or early childhood. The extent of organ involvement may vary among affected individuals; however, skeletal muscle weakness is usually present with minimal cardiac involvement. In the adult form of Pompe disease, symptoms include muscle weakness such as that found in other chronic muscle disorders. Onset of symptoms usually occurs in the second to fourth decade. This form of the disorder is slowly progressive without cardiac involvement. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the enzyme replacement therapy Myozyme as a treatment for all patients with Pompe disease (April 2006).

Resources

CLIMB (Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases)
Climb Building
176 Nantwich Road
Crewe, Intl CW2 6BG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 870 7700 325
Fax: +44 870 7700 327
Email: info@climb.org.uk
Internet: http://www.CLIMB.org.uk

Association for Glycogen Storage Disease
P.O. Box 896
Durant, IA 52747
USA
Tel: 5637856038
Fax: 5637856038
Email: info@agsd.org.uk
Internet: http://www.agsdus.org

Vaincre Les Maladies Lysosomales
2 ter avenue de Fance
Massy, 91300
France
Tel: 01 69 75 40 30
Fax: 01 60 11 15 83
Email: accueil@vml-asso.org
Internet: http://www.vml-asso.org

Muscular Dystrophy Association
3300 E. Sunrise Dr
Tucson, AZ 85718
USA
Tel: 5205292000
Fax: 5205295300
Tel: 8003444863
Email: mda@mdausa.org
Internet: http://www.mdausa.org

NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Endocrine Diseases Metabolic Diseases Branch
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570
Tel: (301)654-3810
Fax: (301)496-7422
Email: NDDIC@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niddk.nih.gov

Acid Maltase Deficiency Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 700248
San Antonio, TX 78270-0248
Tel: (210)494-6144
Fax: (210)490-7161
Email: tianrama@aol.com
Internet: http://www.amda-pompe.org

Association for Glycogen Storage Disease (UK)
9 Lindop Road
Hale
Altricham
Cheshire, WA159DZ
United Kingdom
Tel: 1619807303
Fax: 1612263813
Email: president@agsd.org.uk
Internet: http://www.agsd.org.uk

Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF)
PO Box 547
Tenafly, NJ 07670
USA
Tel: 8668082873
Fax: 2012277016
Email: info@childrenscardiomyopathy.org
Internet: http://www.childrenscardiomyopathy.org

Belgian Association for Metabolic Diseases (BOKS)
Alice Nahonlann 7
Melsele, 9120
Belgium
Tel: 3237754839
Email: info@boks.be
Internet: http://www.boks.be

Instituto de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo
Carrera 7 No 43-82
Bogota, Columbia
S.A. Edificio 53 Lab. 305A,
Tel: (50 )1 3-208320
Fax: (51 )1 3-384548
Email: abarrera@javeriana.edu.co
Internet: http://www.javeriana.edu.co

United Pompe Foundation
5100 N 6th St., Suite 149
Fresno, CA 93710
Tel: (559)227-1898
Fax: (559)227-1898
Email: david@unitedpompe.com
Internet: http://www.unitedpompe.com

Hide & Seek Foundation for Lysosomal Disease Research
4123 Lankershim Blvd.
Suite 302
North Hollywood, CA 91602-2828
Tel: (818)762-8621
Fax: (818)762-2502
Email: info@hideandseek.org
Internet: http://www.hideandseek.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 6/1/2007
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