Late-onset Pompe disease mimicking oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Abstract

Pompe disease is a genetic condition that results in glycogen accumulation in tissues, presenting from early infancy to late adulthood with various neurological and non-neurological features. We describe a woman in her late 70s with a slowly progressive onset (over years) of ptosis, oropharyngeal dysphagia and dysarthria, who was found to have late-onset Pompe disease. This case illustrates an atypical phenotype of late-onset Pompe disease that closely mimicked oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Pompe disease is relatively easily identified using dried blood spot testing as a screening test. Enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease has increased the importance of its timely diagnosis, and recognising the variability in its presentation.