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Background Pompe disease is caused by pathogenic variants in the GAA gene, resulting in lysosomal acid α-glucosidase (GAA) deficiency. The prevalence of Pompe disease is not well-defined, and estimates vary by geographic region. We evaluated the global epidemiology of Pompe disease and the potential reasons for differing prevalence estimates using published data from worldwide newborn screening (NBS) programs and population-based studies. Methods A comprehensive literature search in PubMed was conducted in July 2023, updated in March 2024, and validated with an Embase search in June 2024. Search terms included Pompe disease, GSDII, prevalence, incidence, epidemiology, survival, mortality, and NBS. Studies were included based on robust epidemiological methods, the presence of disease definition, and publication within the past 5 years. We identified 1210 abstracts, of which 295 met recency criteria, 30 were deemed relevant, and 11 met all inclusion criteria. Results Prevalence estimates and GAA enzyme activity cutoff values varied across geographic regions. In NBS studies, the birth prevalence of infantile-onset Pompe disease (IOPD) ranged from 1 in 297,387 in Japan to 1 in 62,186 in Taiwan, and late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) ranged from 1 in 82,914 in Taiwan to 1 in 17,133 in Pennsylvania. Data from the French National Pompe Registry (N = 246) showed an increase in diagnosis of LOPD from 2.6/year before 2001 to 10.6/year during 2001–2010 and 12.8/year during 2011–2015. Enzyme cutoffs in dried blood spots varied from < 3% of lymphocyte mean to 2.10 μmol/L/h to ≤ 18% of the daily median. Three studies noted higher prevalence in populations of African descent, and two noted a higher frequency of pseudodeficiency alleles in Asian populations. Conclusions This scoping review confirmed that prevalence estimates differ for IOPD and LOPD and vary by geographic region, potentially by race and ethnicity. It highlights the need to standardize screening and diagnosis methods, genetic testing protocols, and uniform disease classification between IOPD and LOPD.

Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a complex disease affecting multiple tissues, including skeletal and cardiac muscles, the brain and the eyes. DM1 results from an expansion of CTG repeats in the 3′ UTR of the DMPK gene. Previously, we described that the small-molecule inhibitor of GSK3β, tideglusib (TG), reduces DM1 pathology in DM1 cell and mouse models by correcting the GSK3β-CUGBP1 pathway, decreasing the mutant CUG-containing RNA. Respectively, clinical trials using TG showed promising results for patients with congenital DM1 (CDM1). The drug development in DM1 human studies needs specific and noninvasive biomarkers. We examined the blood levels of active GSK3β in different clinical forms of DM1 and found an increase in active GSK3β in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with CDM1, juvenile DM1 and adult-onset DM1 vs. unaffected patients. The blood levels of active GSK3β correlate with the length of CTG repeats and severity of muscle weakness. Thrombospondin and TGFβ, linked to the TG-GSK3β pathway in DM1, are also elevated in the DM1 patients’ blood. These findings show that the blood levels of active GSK3β might be developed as a potential noninvasive biomarker of muscle weakness in DM1.

Background The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is the smallest change in outcome that physicians or patients would consider meaningful and is relevant when evaluating disease progression or the efficacy of interventions. Studies of patients with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) have used the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) as an endpoint to assess motor function. However, an MCID for 6MWD (% predicted and meters) has yet to be established in LOPD. The objective of the study was to derive 6MWD MCID (% predicted and meters) with different analysis methods and for subgroups of different disease severity for LOPD. Methods Data from the PROPEL trial were used to calculate 6MWD MCID in the overall PROPEL population and subgroups of baseline severity as assessed by walking distance and body mass index (BMI), using anchor- and distribution-based approaches. Results The 6MWD MCIDs varied widely, depending on the method and subgroup, ranging from 2.27%-8.11% predicted for the overall LOPD population (23.7 m-57.2 m). For patients with baseline 6MWD < 150 m, MCIDs ranged from -0.74%-3.37% (-2.1 m-11.3 m). MCIDs increased with distance walked at baseline until a plateau was reached. For BMI subgroups, the MCIDs were generally lowest in obese patients. Conclusion Our analysis shows that MCID depends on the chosen method and disease severity. The findings suggest that applying a single MCID to all patients can be misleading; consequently, a range of possible MCIDs should be considered. This may also be highly relevant for other neuromuscular diseases. This study provides a range of 6MWD MCIDs for LOPD, with lower MCIDs for more severe patients.

Background Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), a rare autosomal recessive multisystemic disorder, substantially impacts patients’ day-to-day activities, outcomes, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The PROPEL trial compared cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat (cipa+mig) with alglucosidase alfa plus placebo (alg+pbo) in adult patients with LOPD over 52 weeks and showed improved motor and respiratory function in patients switching treatment from standard-of-care enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) to cipa+mig at baseline. This study evaluated the impact of cipa+mig on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including HRQoL in ERT-experienced patients, using data from PROPEL. Methods PROs evaluated included the Subject’s Global Impression of Change (SGIC), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Short Form 20a, PROMIS Fatigue Short Form 8a, Rasch-built Pompe-specific Activity (R-PAct), and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions 5 Response Levels (EQ-5D-5L). The proportions of responders in the cipa+mig arm and the alg+pbo arm were compared via chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test (patient-level responder analysis), and least squares (LS) mean differences were calculated for change from baseline at Week 52 of the PRO measures (group-level analysis). Results At Week 52, patient-level SGIC responder and group-level SGIC analyses favored cipa+mig compared with alg+pbo across all SGIC domains (e.g. 90 vs. 59% responders in the cipa+mig vs. the alg+pbo group for SGIC ability to move around; P  = 0.0005; and LS mean difference 0.385; P  = 0.02). Similarly, PROMIS Physical Function and Fatigue domains numerically favored cipa+mig in both analyses (e.g. 50 vs. 40% responders in the cipa+mig vs. alg+pbo arm for PROMIS Physical Function; P  = 0.37; and LS mean difference 3.1; P  = 0.11). R-PAct for both treatment groups was similar in the patient-level responder analysis, but numerically favored alg+pbo in the group-level analysis (35% responders in both arms; P  = 0.95; and LS mean difference −0.8; P  = 0.48). Self-care, usual activities, and depression/anxiety domains of EQ-5D-5L numerically favored cipa+mig in both analyses (e.g. 20 vs. 12% responders in the cipa+mig vs. alg+pbo arm for EQ-5D-5L self-care; P  = 0.54; and LS mean difference −0.108; P  = 0.52). Conclusions Overall, switching treatment from alglucosidase alfa to cipa+mig positively impacted PRO measurements during the double-blind period of PROPEL. Trial registration NCT03729362; Registration date: November 1, 2018; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03729362 Plain English summary Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is a rare, multisystemic inherited genetic disease that causes glycogen accumulation in muscles and other body organs, leading to muscle weakness and respiratory insufficiency. LOPD significantly impacts patients’ day-to-day life. Enzyme replacement therapies (ERT) have greatly improved the lives of patients with LOPD. The first approved ERT for LOPD was alglucosidase alfa (alg). To evaluate the effects of a new treatment (cipaglucosidase alfa+miglustat [cipa+mig]) in adult patients with LOPD, two-thirds of patients were switched from alg to cipa+mig and the remaining patients continued receiving alg (alg+placebo [alg+pbo]). We used patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires (asking patients how they feel) to assess changes in patient health. Groups were similar at baseline. Analyses showed that patients improved following cipa+mig treatment for all domains of the PROs Subject’s Global Impression of Change (SGIC; overall physical well-being, effort of breathing, muscle strength, muscle function, ability to move around, activities of daily living, energy level, level of muscular pain) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS; Physical Function, Fatigue) compared with when treated with alg+pbo. Rasch-built Pompe-specific Activity (R-PAct), a survey evaluating daily activities and social life of patients living with Pompe disease, showed that patients felt similar after cipa+mig and alg+pbo. European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Response Levels (EQ-5D-5L), a measure of health covering five dimensions, favored cipa+mig in the self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and depression/anxiety areas, and alg+pbo for mobility. Overall, changing treatment from alg to cipa+mig positively affects PROs and the patient’s general well-being.

Novel genetic variants exist in patients with hereditary neuromuscular disorders (NMD), including muscular dystrophy. These patients also develop cardiac manifestations. However, the association between these gene variants and cardiac abnormalities is understudied. To determine genetic modifiers and features of cardiac disease in NMD patients, we have reviewed electronic medical records of 651 patients referred to the Muscular Dystrophy Association Care Center at the University of Cincinnati and characterized the clinical phenotype of 14 patients correlating with their next-generation sequencing data. The data were retrieved from the electronic medical records of the 14 patients included in the current study and comprised neurologic and cardiac phenotype and genetic reports which included comparative genomic hybridization array and NGS. Novel associations were uncovered in the following eight patients diagnosed with Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy, Bethlem Myopathy, Necrotizing Myopathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Peripheral Polyneuropathy, and Valosin-containing Protein-related Myopathy. Mutations in COL6A1, COL6A3, SGCA, SYNE1, FKTN, PLEKHG5, ANO5, and SMCHD1 genes were the most common, and the associated cardiac features included bundle branch blocks, ventricular chamber dilation, septal thickening, and increased outflow track gradients. Our observations suggest that features of cardiac disease and modifying gene mutations in patients with NMD require further investigation to better characterize genotype–phenotype relationships.

Valosin‐containing protein (VCP)‐associated multisystem proteinopathy (MSP) is a rare genetic disorder with abnormalities in the autophagy pathway leading to various combinations of myopathy, bone diseases, and neurodegeneration. Ninety percent of patients with VCP‐associated MSP have myopathy, but there is no consensus‐based guideline. The goal of this working group was to develop a best practice set of provisional recommendations for VCP myopathy which can be easily implemented across the globe. As an initiative by Cure VCP Disease Inc., a patient advocacy organization, an online survey was initially conducted to identify the practice gaps in VCP myopathy. All prior published literature on VCP myopathy was reviewed to better understand the different aspects of management of VCP myopathy, and several working group sessions were conducted involving international experts to develop this provisional recommendation. VCP myopathy has a heterogeneous clinical phenotype and should be considered in patients with limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy phenotype, or any myopathy with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Genetic testing is the only definitive way to diagnose VCP myopathy, and single‐variant testing in the case of a known familial VCP variant, or multi‐gene panel sequencing in undifferentiated cases can be considered. Muscle biopsy is important in cases of diagnostic uncertainty or lack of a definitive pathogenic genetic variant since rimmed vacuoles (present in ~40% cases) are considered a hallmark of VCP myopathy. Electrodiagnostic studies and magnetic resonance imaging can also help rule out disease mimics. Standardized management of VCP myopathy will optimize patient care and help future research initiatives.

Pompe disease is a rare disorder characterised by progressive loss of muscle and respiratory function due to acid α-glucosidase deficiency. Enzyme replacement therapy with recombinant human acid α-glucosidase, alglucosidase alfa, is the first approved treatment for the disease, but some patients do not respond, and many do not show a sustained benefit. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of an investigational two-component therapy (cipaglucosidase alfa, a novel recombinant human acid α-glucosidase, plus miglustat, an enzyme stabiliser) for late-onset Pompe disease. We did a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial at 62 neuromuscular and metabolic medical centres in 24 countries in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. Eligible participants were aged 18 years or older with late-onset Pompe disease, and had either been receiving alglucosidase alfa for at least 2 years or were enzyme replacement therapy-naive. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) using interactive response technology software, stratified by 6-min walk distance and previous enzyme replacement therapy status, to intravenous cipaglucosidase alfa (20 mg/kg) plus oral miglustat or to intravenous alglucosidase alfa (20 mg/kg) plus oral placebo once every 2 weeks for 52 weeks. Patients, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to week 52 in 6-min walk distance, assessed using a mixed-effect model for repeated measures analysis for comparison of superiority in the intention-to-treat population (all patients who received at least one dose of study drug). This study is now complete and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03729362. Between Dec 3, 2018, and Nov 26, 2019, 130 patients were screened for eligibility and 125 were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat (n=85) or alglucosidase alfa plus placebo (n=40). Two patients in the alglucosidase alfa plus placebo group did not receive any dose due to absence of genotype confirmation of late-onset Pompe disease and were excluded from analysis. Six patients discontinued (one in the alglucosidase alfa plus placebo group, five in the cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat group), and 117 completed the study. At week 52, mean change from baseline in 6-min walk distance was 20·8 m (SE 4·6) in the cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat group versus 7·2 m (6·6) in the alglucosidase alfa plus placebo group using last observation carried forward (between-group difference 13·6 m [95% CI −2·8 to 29·9]). 118 (96%) of 123 patients experienced at least one treatment-emergent adverse event during the study; the incidence was similar between the cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat group (n=81 [95%]) and the alglucosidase alfa plus placebo group (n=37 [97%]). The most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events were fall (25 [29%] patients in the cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat group vs 15 [39%] in the alglucosidase alfa plus placebo group), headache (20 [24%] vs 9 [24%]), nasopharyngitis (19 [22%] vs 3 [8%]), myalgia (14 [16%] vs 5 [13%]), and arthralgia (13 [15%]) vs 5 [13%]). 12 serious adverse events occurred in eight patients in the cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat group; only one event (anaphylaxis) was deemed related to study drug. One serious adverse event (stroke) occurred in the alglucosidase alfa plus placebo group, which was deemed unrelated to study drug. There were no deaths. Cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat did not achieve statistical superiority to alglucosidase alfa plus placebo for improving 6-min walk distance in our overall population of patients with late-onset Pompe disease. Further studies should investigate the longer-term safety and efficacy of cipaglucosidase alfa plus miglustat and whether this investigational two-component therapy might provide benefits, particularly in respiratory function and in patients who have been receiving enzyme replacement therapy for more than 2 years, as suggested by our secondary and subgroup analyses. Amicus Therapeutics.

The IMACS Telemedicine SIG unites a global multi-specialty community of clinicians and researchers with a shared mission to develop best practice guidelines for telemedicine consultations in IIM clinics and support its integration into routine care. The discussion was facilitated by the chair of the IMACS Telemedicine SIG chair, a female M.D. (rheumatologist) with extensive publications on myositis, expertise in digital health care delivery [6, 7] and experience conducting survey-based research inclusive of qualitative studies [8, 9–10]. The study employed a systematic qualitative content analysis approach, modified from the Framework Method [11], to identify key themes, patterns, and common experiences. Perspectives: advantages of telemedicine for IIM Theme Specific benefit Convenience Practical for patients and physicians Telemedicine consultations can occur at any time convenient to patient or physician Clinician may conduct telemedicine consultations at location of convenience Reduced time off work for patients or carers who are employed Reduced time off school for paediatric patients Improved access Reduces travel burden and travel costs for patients and carers Substantial advantages for countries which are vast in geographical size but for which high-quality medical resources are concentrated in major cities Substantial advantages for rare diseases, like IIM, where specialist expertise is concentrated in major cities Useful for patients who are less mobile owing to severe muscle weakness or those who rely on home oxygen support for ILD Reduces the rate of patients lost to follow-up Patients can continue to be monitored if they move interstate; telemedicine can bridge care until they secure a new local physician Improved care delivery Permits more frequent visits, which strengthens the physician–patient relationship and improves adherence to the proposed treatment Useful for long-term, stable patients, improving patients or for a brief follow-up visit Muscle strength testing or muscle endurance may be relatively straightforward to assess remotely Substantial advantages for patients with complex diseases, like IIM, who benefit from frequent monitoring Reduced in-person hospital visits lowers infection risk for immunocompromised patients Can be useful as a first assessment, to help determine whether an in-person visit is necessary and what investigations are needed prior Telemedicine can provide critical specialist support for local health care providers for patients with severe or complex conditions Educational information can be sent to patients via apps A telemedicine approach may overcome other barriers to care, such as geographic distances and financial limitations.

The phase III double-blind PROPEL study compared the novel two-component therapy cipaglucosidase alfa + miglustat (cipa + mig) with alglucosidase alfa + placebo (alg + pbo) in adults with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). This ongoing open-label extension (OLE; NCT04138277) evaluates long-term safety and efficacy of cipa + mig. Outcomes include 6-min walk distance (6MWD), forced vital capacity (FVC), creatine kinase (CK) and hexose tetrasaccharide (Hex4) levels, patient-reported outcomes and safety. Data are reported as change from PROPEL baseline to OLE week 52 (104 weeks post-PROPEL baseline). Of 118 patients treated in the OLE, 81 continued cipa + mig treatment from PROPEL (cipa + mig group; 61 enzyme replacement therapy [ERT] experienced prior to PROPEL; 20 ERT naïve) and 37 switched from alg + pbo to cipa + mig (switch group; 29 ERT experienced; 8 ERT naive). Mean (standard deviation [SD]) change in % predicted 6MWD from baseline to week 104 was + 3.1 (8.1) for cipa + mig and − 0.5 (7.8) for the ERT-experienced switch group, and + 8.6 (8.6) for cipa + mig and + 8.9 (11.7) for the ERT-naïve switch group. Mean (SD) change in % predicted FVC was − 0.6 (7.5) for cipa + mig and − 3.8 (6.2) for the ERT-experienced switch group, and − 4.8 (6.5) and − 3.1 (6.7), respectively, in ERT-naïve patients. CK and Hex4 levels improved in both treatment groups by week 104 with cipa + mig treatment. Three patients discontinued the OLE due to infusion-associated reactions. No new safety signals were identified. Cipa + mig treatment up to 104 weeks was associated with overall maintained improvements (6MWD, biomarkers) or stabilization (FVC) from baseline with continued durability, and was well tolerated, supporting long-term benefits for patients with LOPD. Trial registration number : NCT04138277; trial start date: December 18, 2019.