Late-Onset Pompe's Disease

Glycogen storage disease type II, also known as Pompe's disease or acid maltase deficiency, is caused by a deficiency in acid alpha-glucosidase. Severe enzyme deficiency results in infantile Pompe's disease with multiorgan involvement; a partial deficiency produces a less severe phenotype mainly consisting of a myopathy, with a later age of onset. Treatment is now available with intravenous infusion of recombinant acid alpha-glucosidase. Such treatment results in marked improvement in patients with infantile Pompe's disease, and modest improvement or stabilization in patients with late-onset Pompe's disease.