Prenatal diagnosis of type II glycogenosis (Pompe's disease) using microchemical analyses.

1. In order to reduce the time interval between amniocentesis and prenatal diagnosis of Pompe's disease microchemical techniques were used for assay of acid alpha-1,4-glucosidase activities in cultured amniotic fluid cells. 2. Microtechniques used on homogenates of cultured amniotic fluid cells enabled the waiting period to be reduced to 2-3 weeks. 3. When dissected lyophilized groups of 200-300 cultured cells were analyzed, a prenatal diagnosis was possible at about 10 days after amniocentesis. 4. The acid alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity in the amniotic fluid supernatant is not informative in prenatal diagnosis of Pompe's disease. 5. Conditions of cell cultivation such as length of time in culture were found to influence markedly the acid alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity in cultured amniotic fluid cells. 6. For a reliable prenatal diagnosis of metabolic disorders primary cultures of control amniotic fluid cells should be used and the analytical results from the pregnancy at risk should be compared with primary cultures of control amniotic fluid cells and with those in cultured fibroblasts from heterozygous carriers, and an affected sibling from the particular family.