A Pilot Study of Pyridostigmine in Pompe Disease

Summary

Pyridostigmine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which degrades acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. Based on recent studies, pyridostigmine may be an effective adjuvant treatment for people with Pompe disease, as it increases the functional impact of this neurotransmitter. Hypothesis: the use of pyridostigmine in Pompe disease will improve transmission of acetylcholine across the neuromuscular junction, skeletal muscle function, respiratory function, and quality of life.

Timeline

Start

2015-08

Primary completion

2018-01-01

Completion

2018-01-01

Publications

• Background Byrne BJ, Falk DJ, Pacak CA, Nayak S, Herzog RW, Elder ME, Collins SW, Conlon TJ, Clement N, Cleaver BD, Cloutier DA, Porvasnik SL, Islam S, Elmallah MK, Martin A, Smith BK, Fuller DD, Lawson LA, Mah CS. Pompe disease gene therapy. Hum Mol Genet. 2011 Apr 15;20(R1):R61-8. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddr174. Epub 2011 Apr 25.
• Background Falk DJ, Todd AG, Lee S, Soustek MS, ElMallah MK, Fuller DD, Notterpek L, Byrne BJ. Peripheral nerve and neuromuscular junction pathology in Pompe disease. Hum Mol Genet. 2015 Feb 1;24(3):625-36. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu476. Epub 2014 Sep 12.
• Background Corti M, Smith BK, Falk DJ, Lawson LA, Fuller DD, Subramony SH, Byrne BJ, Christou EA. Altered activation of the tibialis anterior in individuals with Pompe disease: Implications for motor unit dysfunction. Muscle Nerve. 2015 Jun;51(6):877-83. doi: 10.1002/mus.24444. Epub 2015 Apr 24.
• Background Robb SA, Sewry CA, Dowling JJ, Feng L, Cullup T, Lillis S, Abbs S, Lees MM, Laporte J, Manzur AY, Knight RK, Mills KR, Pike MG, Kress W, Beeson D, Jungbluth H, Pitt MC, Muntoni F. Impaired neuromuscular transmission and response to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in centronuclear myopathies. Neuromuscul Disord. 2011 Jun;21(6):379-86. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2011.02.012. Epub 2011 Mar 25.
• Background Maggi L, Mantegazza R. Treatment of myasthenia gravis: focus on pyridostigmine. Clin Drug Investig. 2011 Oct 1;31(10):691-701. doi: 10.2165/11593300-000000000-00000.

Drugs

Indications