Exercise Capacity in Response to Enzyme Replacement Therapy in Pediatric Pompe Disease.

Pompe disease is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic myopathy caused by reduced or absence activity of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with Myozyme has significantly improved the prospect of patients with infantile Pompe disease (IPD). Most IPD patients show clinical improvement on therapy, but deteriorate at different time points, raising the possibility that increasing drug delivery might halt the progression of the disease. Data on the effects of ERT therapy on physiological variables related to exercise tolerance is scarce.

Our aims are to investigate the acute and long term effect of ERT on exercise capacity; comparing the effect of different ERT dosages (as prescribed by the clinician according to clinical judgment) and assessing the relationship between enzyme blood level and exercise capacity. Such evaluation may allow a more objective quantification of the response to ERT.

Methods: A retrospective - prospective study evaluating pediatric patients with Pompe before and 2 days after ERT on multiple occasions and different dosing. Evaluation included cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), 6 minute-walking test (6MWT), motor function test (GMFM-88) and self-collected blood samples (on a Guthrie card) for enzyme blood levels.