Fertility and pregnancy in women affected by glycogen storage disease type I, results of a multicenter Italian study

Abstract

Life expectancy of patients with glycogen storage disease (GSD) type I has improved considerably, opening new problems correlated with adult age. In females polycystic ovaries (PCOs) has been described as frequently associated with the disease, however successful pregnancies have been reported. Whether or not GSD I is associated with impaired reproductive function is still unclear. Data about female patients with GSD Ia and Ib, who were 16 years or older, were obtained from clinical records and interviews. A total of 32 women with GSD I (25 GSD Ia, 7 GSD Ib), median age 26 years (range 16-55), were included. 9/32 patients had delayed menarche, 17/32 had irregular cycles, 8/22 had documented polycystic ovaries. Five successful spontaneous pregnancies in four patients with GSD Ia and two in a woman with GSD Ib were reported. The latter had development and enlargement of hepatic adenomas during pregnancies. Despite the high prevalence of irregular menstruation cycles and polycystic ovaries, fertility seems not to be impaired in women with GSD I. During pregnancy monitoring for adenoma development is mandatory.