Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Incontinence in Children with Pompe Disease.

BACKGROUND

Pompe disease (PD) is a disorder of lysosomal glycogen storage. The introduction of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has shifted the focus of care from survival to quality of life. The presence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and incontinence has not been previously described in children with PD.

METHODS

Children with PD followed in the Duke Lysosomal Storage Disease Clinic completed a validated bladder control symptom score (BCSS) and additional questions regarding urinary tract infections (UTIs), giggle, and stress incontinence. Descriptive statistics were used to discriminate urinary symptoms between gender, age, and different types of PD.

RESULTS

Sixteen of 23 children (aged 4-14 years) seen in our clinic participated. Seven were girls; ten had classic infantile PD, two atypical infantile PD, and four childhood presentation late-onset PD (LOPD). When stratified by PD subtype, median BCSS was worst for the classic PD subtype followed by atypical PD and LOPD. Daytime urinary incontinence accompanied by constipation was noted in six. Eight reported urinary incontinence with laughing: giggle incontinence in six and stress incontinence in two. Four girls reported a history of UTI. Longitudinal follow-up in 11 patients showed stable BCSS in six, improvement in three, and worsening in two. Worsening corresponded with changes in bowel function and improvement with increase in ERT dose or treatment of constipation.

CONCLUSIONS

LUTS and incontinence are common in children with PD with greater symptoms noted with infantile-type PD. Improved bowel function and increase in ERT dose may lead to improvements in BCSS.