key: cord-0685143-cnzjevkg
authors: Avelar, Jennifer; Wencel, Marie; Chumakova, Anastasia; Mozaffar, Tahseen
title: COVID‐19 infection in patients with late‐onset Pompe disease
date: 2022-01-04
journal: Muscle Nerve
DOI: 10.1002/mus.27482
sha: 4157964171b7ff2f25c96bb4352886859297ea67
doc_id: 685143
cord_uid: cnzjevkg

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 2019 (SARS‐CoV2/COVID‐19) is frequently more severe in individuals with pre‐existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. The impact on patients with neuromuscular disorders is of concern, but remains largely unknown. Late‐onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is a lysosomal‐storage disorder characterized by progressive skeletal and respiratory muscle degeneration. Mortality is typically caused by respiratory failure. We examined the impact of COVID‐19 on these patients. METHODS: This is a case series of four patients with LOPD who contracted COVID‐19. RESULTS: All patients had a mild/moderate illness from COVID‐19 and did not require hospitalization. Neurological worsening occurred in one, with no change in physical ability in the other three, and respiratory symptoms remained stable in all four. DISCUSSION: COVID‐19 infection can result in a benign course in some patients with LOPD. However, individuals with LOPD remain at high risk and should receive COVID‐19 vaccinations and exercise precautions to avoid exposure to COVID‐19 infection.

All four patients had pre-existing LOPD and pulmonary involvement and were in the category more likely to have complications from COVID-19

infection. Yet they only had mild/moderate manifestations and did not have additional pulmonary complications, hospitalization, or significant worsening of their neurological illnesses. Patient 1 had a pre-COVID FVC that was below 50%; similarly, patient 3, despite having an FVC around 75%, has had low inspiratory pressures, and was documented to have had extremely low diaphragmatic pressures on transdiaphragmatic manometry.

Only two patients were treated with high-dose corticosteroids, and one was treated with the monoclonal antibodies directed against COVID-19. He serves on the data safety monitoring board for Acceleron, Sarepta, and the NIH. The remaining authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

We confirm that we have read the Journal's position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines.

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

Tahseen Mozaffar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1230-0188

Brief review on COVID-19: the 2020 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2

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A randomized study of alglucosidase alfa in late-onset Pompe's disease

Clinical manifestation and natural course of late-onset Pompe's disease in 54 Dutch patients

COVID-19 infection in patients with late-onset Pompe disease