An elderly diabetic patient with McArdle disease and recurrent rhabdomyolysis: a potential association with late hypoinsulinemia?

BACKGROUND: McArdle disease is a myopathy caused by mutations in PYGM gene that is characterized by reduced or absent activity of myophosphorylase. Reports of patients with concomitant McArdle disease and diabetes are scarce. We report a case of a patient with a late diagnosis of McArdle disease and we postulate that symptoms may be related to hypoinsulinemia. CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes the evolution of an elderly diabetic patient with confirmed diagnosis of McArdle's disease based on the absence of myophosphorylase activity in the analysis of muscle biopsy, and a homozygous mutation in the PYGM gene. The variant - Chr11: 64.525 (p. Asn168*fs) has not been previously described. The diagnosis of McArdle disease was confirmed after two episodes of rhabdomyolysis, at 77 and 81 years of age, as the symptoms were, until then, discrete. The "second-wind phenomenon" was not spontaneously reported, but it was confirmed when directly questioned. We postulate that the later episodes of rhabdomyolysis occurred because of a progressive decrease in insulin production with a consequent reduction in the uptake of blood glucose by muscle cells, thus compromising the cellular energy balance. To our knowledge, this is the first report of recurrent rhabdomyolysis in an elderly diabetic patient with genetically proven McArdle disease. Our initial attempt to reduce insulin resistance with metformin and pioglitazone was not effective, possibly because of inadequate insulinemia. However, an improvement was evident after the administration of low doses of intermediate-acting insulin. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the patient's clinical evolution, we suggest the use of medication that reduces insulin resistance for patients with McArdle disease and type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes or even normoglycemic metabolic syndrome.

Single-centre experience on genotypic and phenotypic features of southern Brazilian patients with McArdle disease.

McArdle disease (MD) is a metabolic myopathy caused by deficiency of the myophosphorylase enzyme. The aim of our study was to analyse a series of MD patients in Brazil and the correlation between clinical findings, laboratory data, electromyography, muscle biopsy and genetic features. The PYGM gene was analysed by PCR/RLFP and Sanger sequencing. The sample included 12 patients, aged 18-57 years, from unrelated families. Exercise intolerance was present in all cases. Serum creatine kinase levels at rest were increased in all patients. Forearm ischaemic exercise testing in five patients revealed no increase in venous lactate. Needle electromyography presented 'myopathic pattern' in six patients. Muscle biopsy showed vacuolar myopathy in 10 patients and deficiency of myophosphorylase enzyme in all patients. The genetic analysis showed p.R50X as the most common mutation (allelic frequency: 56.25%), other known mutations (p.Y574X, p.G205S, p.W798R, IVS14 + 1G > A and IVS19-1G > A) and a new mutation (p.Asn168Lysfs*15) were also identified. Several features of the disorder were similar to the vast majority of patients worldwide. The genetic findings of this study revealed a range of mutations that are quite similar to the European cohort. The discovery of one novel mutation increases the genotypic heterogeneity of PYGM gene.

McArdle's disease: Diagnostic approach after clinical symptoms of vigorous exercise intolerance in a snowboarder in Alpes / Enfermedad de McArdle: enfoque diagnóstico después de los síntomas clínicos de intolerancia al ejercicio vigoroso en un snowboarder en los Alpes

ABSTRACT McArdle's disease (glycogen storage disease type V) is an energy-dependent disorder of skeletal muscle caused by a deficiency of myophosphorylase, an important enzyme of carbohydrate metabolism that converts glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate. A 46 year-old man was sent to the rheumatology outpatient department with a 3-year history of severe exercise-induced cramps and myalgias. The episodes began when he worked in France and used to practice ski and snowboard in the Alps Mountain, with exercise intolerance, muscle cramps, and myoglobinuria. The laboratory results showed elevated serum creatine kinase levels (~15,000 U/L), and the biopsy of the deltoid muscle revealed glycogen subsarcolemmal vacuoles and absence of myophosphorylase enzymatic activity. This clinical case emphasises the importance of taking into account this metabolic disorder when faced with a patient with exercise intolerance and cramps, especially after vigorous/anaerobic exercise and elevated levels of CK activity. It is fundamental to explain the aetiology of the patient symptoms in order to improve quality of life and avoid unnecessary complications.

R E S U M E N La enfermedad de McArdle (enfermedad de almacenamiento de glucógeno tipo V) es un trastorno del músculo esquelético dependiente de la energía causado por una deficiencia de miofosforilasa, una importante enzima del metabolismo de los hidratos de carbono que convierte el glucógeno en glucosa-1-fosfato. Un hombre de 46 años de edad fue enviado al departamento de reumatología para pacientes ambulatorios con un historial de 3 años de calambres y mialgias severos inducidos por el ejercicio. Los episodios comenzaron cuando trabajó en Francia y solía practicar esquí y snowboard en el macizo de los Alpes, con intolerancia al ejercicio, calambres musculares y mioglobinuria. Las pruebas de laboratorio mostraron niveles elevados de creatina quinasa sérica (~ 15.000 U/l) y la biopsia del músculo deltoides reveló vacuolas subsarcolémicas de glucógeno y ausencia de actividad enzimática de la miofosforilasa. Nuestro caso clínico enfatiza la importancia de pensar en este trastorno metabólico cuando tenemos un paciente con intolerancia al ejercicio y calambres, especialmente después de un ejercicio vigoroso/anaeróbico y niveles elevados de actividad CK. Es fundamental explicar la etiología de los síntomas del paciente para mejorar la calidad de vida y evitar complicaciones innecesarias.

Falso diagnóstico de caminador en puntillas de pies; sospecha de enfermedad de McArdle / False diagnosis of idiopathic toe walker (ITW); suspicion of McArdle disease

El caminar en puntillas de los pies es una condición patológica en la cual las personas caminan en las puntas de los pies sin presentar ninguna condición ortopédica o neurológica. Se ha encontrado que los caminadores en puntillas de pies presentan diferentes características en los músculos gastrocnemios, el tendón de Aquiles y en el pie. La enfermedad de McArdle es una condición médica autosómica recesiva caracterizada por la baja tolerancia a la actividad física, la atrofia de los músculos de la cintura escapular y, en algunos casos, con episodios de mioglobinuria después de realizar ejercicio vigoroso. Este reporte explica el caso de una paciente diagnosticada como caminadora idiopática en puntillas de pies, pero con los signos clínicos de la enfermedad de McArdle. Este reporte busca comentar las características clínicas que diferencian a los caminadores idiopáticos en puntillas de pies y a los pacientes con la enfermedad de McArdle.

Idiopathic Toe Walking is a pathological condition in which the gait takes place on the tip toes. ITW is diagnosed on the absent of any orthopedic or neurological condition. The physiological characteristics of the gastrocnemios muscles, the Achilles tendon, and the foot of Idiopathic toe walkers are different to individuals that are not affected by toe walking. McArdle disease is a medical autosomal-recessive condition, characterised by low exercise tolerance, muscular atrophy at the shoulder girdle, and in some cases myoglobinuria episodes have been reported after vigorous physical activities. In this case study we present a patient diagnosed as Idiopathic toe walker, but with the clinical characteristics of McArdle diseases. The aim of this case study is to present the clinical characteristics that differentiate these two pathological conditions.

From exercise intolerance to functional improvement: the second wind phenomenon in the identification of McArdle disease / De intolerância ao exercício à melhora funcional: o fenômeno second wind na identificação da doença de McArdle

McArdle disease is the most common of the glycogen storage diseases. Onset of symptoms is usually in childhood with muscle pain and restricted exercise capacity. Signs and symptoms are often ignored in children or put down to ‘growing pains’ and thus diagnosis is often delayed. Misdiagnosis is not uncommon because several other conditions such as muscular dystrophy and muscle channelopathies can manifest with similar symptoms. A simple exercise test performed in the clinic can however help to identify patients by revealing the second wind phenomenon which is pathognomonic of the condition. Here a patient is reported illustrating the value of using a simple 12 minute walk test.

A doença de McArdle é o tipo mais frequente das glicogenoses. A apresentação clínica característica na infância inclui mialgia e intolerância aos esforços/exercício físico. Frequentemente, os sinais e sintomas das crianças não são considerados devidamente, sendo muitas vezes interpretados como “dores do crescimento”, retardando o diagnóstico. Erros diagnósticos não são raros uma vez que outras doenças, como distrofia muscular ou canalopatias musculares, podem apresentar sintomas semelhantes. Entretanto, um simples teste de exercício físico realizado no ambulatório/consultório médico pode ajudar a identificar estes pacientes pois evidencia o fenômeno second wind, patognomônico da doença de McArdle. Aqui é descrito um relato de caso de um paciente ilustrando o valor do simples 12 minutes walk test.

McArdle disease with rhabdomyolysis induced by rosuvastatin: case report

The rosuvastatin inducing rhabdomyolysis in McArdle disease (MD) has not been reported to date. A 35-years-old man had exercise intolerance, muscular fatigue and cramps during physical activity since infancy. He presented severe rhabdomyolysis episode with seizure and coma after use of rosuvastatin. The investigation showed increased serum creatinekinase levels and the forearm ischemic exercise did not increased venous lactate. The muscle biopsy showed subsarcolemmal and central acummulation of glycogen and absence of the myophosphorylase enzyme. The statin induced myopathy is discussed and the danger of its use in MD is emphasized.

Rosuvastatina induzindo rabdomiólise na doença de McArdle (MD) não foi relatada até o momento. Descrevemos o caso de um homem de 35 anos que desde a infância apresentava sintomas de intolerância aos exercícios, fadiga muscular e cãibras durante o esforço físico, porém após o uso de rosuvastatina apresentou episódio de rabdomiólise com crises convulsivas e coma. A investigação mostrou creatinoquinase sérica elevada e teste do esforço isquêmico sem aumento no lactato venoso. A biópsia muscular revelou acúmulo central e subsarcolemal de glicogênio nas fibras e ausência da enzima miofosforilase. Discutimos as estatinas induzindo miopatia, enfatizando o risco do seu uso na MD.