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Early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy as facilitated by newborn screening improves health outcomes among patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease

Publication ,  Journal Article
Desai, AK; Rodriguez-Rassi, E; Parikh, S; Russo, RS; Kronn, D; Hamm, JA; Chang, IJ; Ortiz, D; McPheron, M; Lydigsen, H; DeArmey, S; Young, SP ...
Published in: Genetics in Medicine Open
January 1, 2026

Purpose: To assess the benefits of early enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD). Methods: A retrospective chart review of 17 IOPD (7 cross-reactive immunologic material [CRIM]-negative and 10 CRIM positive) who initiated ERT (alglucosidase alfa) ≤4 weeks of age and had ≥18 months follow-up was performed. Results: Patients received starting doses of 20 mg/kg/every other week (n = 11), 20 mg/kg/week (n = 3), or 40 mg/kg/week (n = 3). Six CRIM-negative and 2 patients who were CRIM positive received immune tolerance induction (ITI) with Rituximab+Methotrexate+intravenous immunoglobulin. Five patients who were CRIM positive received transient low-dose methotrexate. All CRIM-negative patients were immune tolerant. Three patients who were CRIM positive developed high-sustained antibody titers (HSAT); 2 were immune tolerant after bortezomib-based ITI. One patient who was CRIM positive developed HSAT, was invasively ventilated, and succumbed at age 5.2 years. At the most recent follow-up (MRFU; 3.1-18.4 years), 16 patients were alive, ambulatory, feeding orally, invasive ventilator-free, and receiving high-dose ERT (median lifelong dose 2.76X; 1.36-4.00). All patients experienced left ventricular mass index and Glc4 reductions and for a subset, biomarkers were within normal limits at MRFU (left ventricular mass index:16/17, AST:9/17, CK:5/17, and Glc4:5/16). Conclusion: These data highlight the benefits of early ERT initiation and ITI, along with high-dose ERT. Despite early treatment, patients with IOPD remain at risk of developing HSAT.

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Published In

Genetics in Medicine Open

DOI

EISSN

2949-7744

Publication Date

January 1, 2026

Volume

4
 

Citation

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Desai, A. K., Rodriguez-Rassi, E., Parikh, S., Russo, R. S., Kronn, D., Hamm, J. A., … Kishnani, P. S. (2026). Early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy as facilitated by newborn screening improves health outcomes among patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease. Genetics in Medicine Open, 4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gimo.2025.103478
Desai, A. K., E. Rodriguez-Rassi, S. Parikh, R. S. Russo, D. Kronn, J. A. Hamm, I. J. Chang, et al. “Early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy as facilitated by newborn screening improves health outcomes among patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease.” Genetics in Medicine Open 4 (January 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gimo.2025.103478.
Desai AK, Rodriguez-Rassi E, Parikh S, Russo RS, Kronn D, Hamm JA, et al. Early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy as facilitated by newborn screening improves health outcomes among patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease. Genetics in Medicine Open. 2026 Jan 1;4.
Desai, A. K., et al. “Early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy as facilitated by newborn screening improves health outcomes among patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease.” Genetics in Medicine Open, vol. 4, Jan. 2026. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.gimo.2025.103478.
Desai AK, Rodriguez-Rassi E, Parikh S, Russo RS, Kronn D, Hamm JA, Chang IJ, Ortiz D, McPheron M, Lydigsen H, DeArmey S, Young SP, Kishnani PS. Early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy as facilitated by newborn screening improves health outcomes among patients with infantile-onset Pompe disease. Genetics in Medicine Open. 2026 Jan 1;4.

Published In

Genetics in Medicine Open

DOI

EISSN

2949-7744

Publication Date

January 1, 2026

Volume

4