Management strategies for GSDs

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Dietary Management - The Cornerstone Strategy

  • Goal: Maintain euglycemia & prevent hypoglycemia.
  • Uncooked Cornstarch (UCCS): Cornerstone for GSD I, III, IV, VI, IX.
    • Provides slow, steady glucose release.
    • Dose: 1.6-2.5 g/kg every 4-6 hours.
    • Must be uncooked and mixed in cool water.
  • Dietary Restrictions (GSD I):
    • Strict avoidance of fructose, sucrose, galactose, & lactose.
    • Prevents worsening of lactic acidosis & hyperlipidemia.
  • Specific Modifications:
    • GSD III: High-protein diet supports gluconeogenesis.
    • GSD V (McArdle): Pre-exercise sucrose (~30g) can improve exercise tolerance.

⭐ Uncooked cornstarch (UCCS) therapy revolutionized GSD I management, dramatically improving survival and reducing reliance on continuous nocturnal feedings.

Pharmacotherapy & ERT - The Medical Arsenal

  • GSD I (von Gierke's Disease):

    • Allopurinol: Manages hyperuricemia to prevent gout and nephropathy.
    • Citrate supplements: Alkalinize urine, reducing risk of uric acid stones.
    • Lipid-lowering agents: Statins or fibrates for severe hypertriglyceridemia.
    • G-CSF (Filgrastim): For neutropenia and recurrent infections in GSD Ib.
  • GSD II (Pompe Disease):

    • Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT): The cornerstone of treatment.
    • Alglucosidase alfa (Myozyme®, Lumizyme®): A recombinant human acid α-glucosidase (GAA) administered via regular IV infusions.
  • GSD V (McArdle's Disease):

    • Pre-exercise sucrose/glucose: Provides an alternative, readily available fuel source.
    • Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Cofactor for muscle glycogen phosphorylase; may offer some benefit.

⭐ In Pompe disease, ERT dramatically improves hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and survival in infants, but its efficacy on skeletal muscle function in late-onset disease is more variable.

Therapeutic strategies for Glycogen Storage Diseases

Monitoring & Complications - The Long-Term View

  • Routine Surveillance: Lifelong, multidisciplinary follow-up is key.
    • Growth: Serial height/weight, bone age.
    • Biochemical: Glucose, lactate, lipid panel, uric acid.
    • Liver: Annual LFTs & ultrasound (from age 10 for GSD I).
    • Renal: Annual urinalysis (microalbuminuria), creatinine, electrolytes.
    • Cardiac: ECG/ECHO for GSD III, IV.
  • Long-Term Complications:
    • Hepatic: Hepatic adenomas (GSD I) → risk of hemorrhage or malignant transformation to HCC.
    • Renal: Nephromegaly, progressive renal insufficiency, Fanconi syndrome.
    • Bone: Osteopenia/osteoporosis.
    • Hematologic: Anemia, platelet dysfunction.

MRI of hepatic adenoma in Glycogen Storage Disease Type I

⭐ In GSD I, hepatic adenomas can regress with strict dietary therapy, but the risk of malignant transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a lifelong concern.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • The primary goal is to maintain euglycemia and prevent hypoglycemia.
  • Management relies on dietary therapy, including frequent small meals and continuous nocturnal feeds.
  • Uncooked cornstarch is a cornerstone, providing slow-release glucose, especially overnight.
  • In GSD I (von Gierke), it's crucial to avoid fructose and galactose.
  • Allopurinol is used to treat the hyperuricemia associated with GSD I.
  • For GSD V (McArdle), management includes sucrose before exercise.
  • GSD II (Pompe) is uniquely treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).

Practice Questions: Management strategies for GSDs

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 16-year-old woman presents to the emergency department for evaluation of acute vomiting and abdominal pain. Onset was roughly 3 hours ago while she was sleeping. She has no known past medical history. Her family history is positive for hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus in her maternal grandmother. On examination, she is found to have fruity breath and poor skin turgor. She appears fatigued and her consciousness is slightly altered. Laboratory results show a blood glucose level of 691 mg/dL, sodium of 125 mg/dL, and elevated serum ketones. Of the following, which is the next best step in patient management?

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Flashcards: Management strategies for GSDs

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Treatment for pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency includes increased intake of _____ nutrients

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Treatment for pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency includes increased intake of _____ nutrients

ketogenic

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