The endocrine glands in Pompe's disease. Report of two cases

Abstract

Pompe's disease (type II glycogenosis), an infantile form of generalized glycogenosis, is characterized biochemically by deficiency of lysosomal acid alpha-1,4-glucosidase and morphologically by intralysosomal glycogen storage in multiple organs, notably the central nervous system, heart, liver, and skeletal muscles. The endocrine system has not been described in detail in the literature. In two infants with Pompe's disease, intralysosomal glycogen was identified in the adrenal cortex and medulla, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, pancreatic islets, and pituitary gland. Of special interest is the severe glycogen accumulation in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal glands.