PURPOSE: Infantile Pompe disease is caused by deficiency of lysosomal acid 
alpha-glucosidase. Trials with recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase enzyme 
replacement therapy (ERT) show a decrease in left ventricular mass and improved 
function. We evaluated 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms (ECGs) at baseline 
and during ERT in patients with infantile Pompe disease.
METHODS: Thirty-two ambulatory ECGs were evaluated for 12 patients with 
infantile Pompe disease from 2003 to 2005. Patients had a median age of 7.4 
months (2.9-37.8 months) at initiation of ERT. Ambulatory ECGs were obtained at 
determined intervals and analyzed.
RESULTS: Significant ectopy was present in 2 of 12 patients. Patient 1 had 211 
and 229 premature ventricular contractions (0.2% of heart beats) at baseline and 
at 11.5 weeks of ERT, respectively. Patient 2 had 10,445 premature ventricular 
contractions (6.7% of heart beats) at 11 weeks of therapy.
CONCLUSION: Infantile Pompe disease may have preexisting ectopy; it may also 
develop during the course of ERT. Therefore, routinely monitoring patients using 
24-hour ambulatory ECGs is useful. Periods of highest risk may be early in the 
course of ERT when there is a substantial decrease in left ventricular mass and 
an initial decrease in ejection fraction.