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Updated: Dec 28, 2025

In Vitro Enzyme Measurement to Test Pharmacological Chaperone Responsiveness in Fabry and Pompe Disease
Published on: December 20, 2017
Enzyme replacement therapy desensitization in a child with infantile onset Pompe disease
Theresa Shu Wen Toh1, Kok Wee Chong2, Anne Eng Neo Goh2
1Department of Paediatric Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
Insights
Enzyme replacement therapy desensitisation is possible for Pompe disease patients with hypersensitivity reactions. A tailored, multi-step dose escalation protocol proved successful in a pediatric case.
Area of Science:
- Rare diseases
- Genetic disorders
- Enzyme replacement therapy
Background:
- Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is crucial for managing Pompe disease, reducing morbidity and mortality.
- Hypersensitivity reactions to ERT are common, potentially disrupting treatment and impacting patient outcomes.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old girl with infantile-onset Pompe disease developed hypersensitivity reactions to alglucosidase alfa ERT.
- A multidisciplinary team, including allergists, geneticists, nurses, and pharmacists, collaborated to manage the patient's hypersensitivity.
Findings:
- A successful desensitisation protocol was developed and implemented for the patient.
- The protocol involved a multi-step, three-fold dose escalation of alglucosidase alfa.
- This approach enabled the continuation of essential enzyme replacement therapy.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the feasibility of ERT desensitisation in patients with Pompe disease hypersensitivity.
- Tailored desensitisation protocols are essential for optimizing safety and efficacy.
- Personalized treatment strategies can improve long-term management and outcomes for patients with Pompe disease.
Background:
Enzyme replacement therapy significantly reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with Pompe disease. Development of hypersensitivity reactions to enzyme replacement therapy is common and can adversely affect disease outcomes when treatment is halted or delayed.
Objective:
Our institution reports a case of successful alglucosidase alfa enzyme replacement therapy desensitisation in a 9-year-old girl with infantile onset Pompe disease.
Methods:
A desensitisation protocol was tailored to our patient with the help of a multidisciplinary team including the allergist, geneticist, nurses and pharmacists.
Results:
For our patient, desensitisation was successful using a multi-step three-fold dose escalation protocol.
Conclusions:
Desensitisation is possible in individuals with hypersensitivity reactions to enzyme replacement. Desensitisation protocols need to be tailored according to the patient's needs and responses to find a protocol that is safe, effective and simple.
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