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Updated: May 29, 2026

In Vitro Enzyme Measurement to Test Pharmacological Chaperone Responsiveness in Fabry and Pompe Disease
Published on: December 20, 2017
Infantile Pompe disease: clinical and genetic characteristics with an experience of enzyme replacement therapy
Anna Cho1, Su Jin Kim, Byung Chan Lim
1Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Pompe disease, a genetic disorder, involves acid α-glucosidase deficiency. Enzyme replacement therapy improved muscle and cardiac function in Korean infants, showing its effectiveness and safety for early-onset cases.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Pompe disease is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from lysosomal acid α-glucosidase deficiency.
- Infantile-onset Pompe disease is characterized by severe cardiomyopathy and hypotonia, often leading to premature death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the molecular basis and clinical outcomes of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in 7 Korean infants with Pompe disease.
- To report novel mutations associated with Pompe disease in the Korean population.
Main Methods:
- Molecular genetic analysis was performed to identify mutations in the acid α-glucosidase gene.
- Four patients received intravenous recombinant human acid α-glucosidase therapy and were monitored for clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Nine different mutations were identified, including five novel mutations.
- The most frequent mutation observed was c.1316T>A (28%).
- Patients treated with ERT showed improved muscle strength and cardiac function with no significant adverse effects over a 2-year period.
Conclusions:
- Pompe disease exhibits significant genetic and clinical heterogeneity.
- Early diagnosis and timely initiation of enzyme replacement therapy are crucial for improving outcomes in infantile Pompe disease.
Abstract:
Pompe disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by lysosomal acid α-glucosidase deficiency. Infantile-onset Pompe disease presents with cardiomyopathy and hypotonia, leading to premature death. This article describes 7 infantile Pompe disease cases and provides their molecular bases and clinical outcomes after enzyme replacement therapy for the first time in Korea. Molecular genetic analyses revealed the presence of 9 different mutations, including 5 novel mutations (c.2171C>A, c.2774C>T, c.1582_3de12, c.1261_1263Tms, and c.1322_1326+9de114). The most common mutation in these 7 patients was c.1316T>A (28%). Four patients received intravenous recombinant human acid α-glucosidase therapy for 2 years, on average, without significant side effects during the treatment course. They all exhibited increased muscle power, with considerable improvement in cardiac function. Pompe disease is heterogeneous regarding both clinical features and molecular characteristics. Early identification of Pompe disease is very important, considering that enzyme replacement therapy is a safe and effective treatment for early-onset patients.
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