-32- 13T>G in intron 1 leading to aberrant splicing of exon 2, associated with the juvenile/adult onset (5, 6) and the intron 10 mutation c.1551+1G>C (p.Val480-Ile517del) associated in some patients with a more severe disease (7), consistent with a diagnosis of Pompe disease. Both mutations have been reported (5-9). A brother Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical and the mother, both carrying the c.1551+1G>C mutation in heterozygosis, were asymptomatic. The other 2 brothers were negative for both mutations and healthy. Father died several years ago, hence molecular analysis was not available. Clinical course and treatment Once obtained the diagnosis

of Pompe disease, the enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) at standard dose (20 mg/kg every two weeks) was started in our patients at Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical an age ranging from 45 to 54 years, while nocturnal non invasive ventilation (NIV) was started at an age ranging from 46 to 54 years, due to reduced nocturnal oxygen saturation. All patients had a reduction of forced vital capacity (FVC) which was further reduced in the lying position, from 17 to 29 % of predicted values. At last follow-up visit, after ERT, Selleck ROCK inhibitor patient 1 and 2 had a further FVC reduction in the lying position of 34% and 22%, respectively, whereas in patient 3 this value was not available. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Heart clinical evaluation

and ECG were normal in all affected patients. Patients’clinical data, including assessment at baseline and at the end of the follow up period, are showed in Table 1. Table 1. Patients’clinical data. The videofluoroscopic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical swallowing examination performed in patient 1 and 2, showed a mild impairment due to delayed tongue

motion and slow oral transit, a moderate post-swallow pharyngeal residue and no penetration or aspiration. A facial CT scan performed in patient 1 at the age of 46 and a facial MRI scan performed in patient 2 at the age of 54, showed fat replacement of the tongue muscles. Muscle MRI – performed at the age of 46 in patient 1 and 54 in patient 2 – obtained T1-weighted axial images at thigh and leg level according Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical to standard protocol (4). As shown in figure 2, patient 1 had fatty degenerative changes of adductor magnus, longus and minimal of left biceps femoris, whereas patient 2 displayed a more diffuse involvement of posterior thigh muscles. No relevant findings were observed in leg muscles. Figure 2. T1-weighted muscle MRI aminophylline axial images at thigh (A, B) and leg level (C, D) in patient 1 (A, C) and 2 (B, D). At thigh level fatty degenerative changes of adductor magnus and longus and minimal of left biceps femoris have been observed in patient 1 (A), … Bulbar symptoms did not change during follow-up period. On the contrary all patients had clinical benefit from starting ERT and/or NIV, as revealed by a better performance at 6MWT that improved from 18 to 100 metres.