Impact of Elosulfase Alfa on Pain in Patients with Morquio A Syndrome over 52 Weeks: MOR-008: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Pilot Study

Abstract Patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), and Morquio A syndrome (MPS IVA) in particular, often report substantial pain burden. MOR-008 was a randomized, double-blind, pilot study assessing the safety and efficacy, including impact on patient-reported pain, of 52 weeks of treatment with elosulfase alfa (at a dose of 2.0 or 4.0 mg/kg/week) in patients with Morquio A syndrome (?7 years old). Assessment of pain at baseline revealed that patients (N = 25) had a mean number of pain locations of 5.7, mean pain intensity score of 4.6 (indicative of medium pain), and a mean number of selected pain descriptors of 7.4 words. Treatment with elosulfase alfa improved subjective pain score (reduced to 3.2), pain locations (reduced by a mean of 1 location), and pain descriptor words (reduced to 4.9 words) over 1 year (52 weeks), suggesting that elosulfase alfa can reduce pain in some patients with Morquio A.

Expert Opinions on Managing Fertility and Pregnancy in Patients With Mucopolysaccharidosis

Abstract The mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) disorders are rare genetic diseases caused by deficiencies in lysosomal enzymes involved in the degradation of glycosaminoglycans, leading to pulmonary, cardiac and neurological dysfunctions, skeletal anomalies, impaired vision, and/or hearing and shortened life spans. Whereas in the past, few individuals with MPS reached adulthood, better diagnosis, multidisciplinary care, and new therapies have led to an increasing number of adult patients with MPS. Therefore, fertility and pregnancy questions in this patient population are becoming more important. Management of fertility issues and pregnancy in patients with MPS is challenging due to the lack of documented cases and a dearth in the literature on this topic. This review presents multidisciplinary expert opinions on managing fertility and pregnancy based on case studies and clinical experience presented at a meeting of MPS specialists held in Berlin, Germany, in April 2015. An overview of the existing literature on this subject is also included.

A Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection Study in Pediatric and Adult Patients With Hunter Syndrome

Abstract Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis II [MPS II]) is characterized by lysosomal glycosaminoglycan (GAG) accumulation. Although a majority of patients with MPS II experience neurocognitive involvement, few data are available on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) GAG levels in these patients. This study measured GAG levels in CSF collected from 9 patients with MPS II, including 4 adults (aged ≥18 years) with normal cognition, and 5 children, 3 of them with cognitive impairment. The CSF total GAG levels were generally higher in the 3 patients with cognitive impairment (range 842.9-2360.9 ng/mL) versus those with normal cognitive status (range 356.8-1181.1 ng/mL). Heparan sulfate levels, as measured by mass spectrometry, generally followed a similar pattern, with patients with the severe phenotype having the highest values. These data, limited by small sample size, suggest CSF GAG levels and heparan sulfate levels may be higher in patients with cognitive impairment versus patients with cognitively intact MPS II.