The phenotypic and genotypic features of a Scottish cohort with McArdle disease

• Published in: Neuromuscular disorders : NMD 2021-08, Vol.31 (8), p.695-700
• Main Authors: Gandhi, Sacha E., Longman, Cheryl, Petty, Richard K.H., Brennan, Kathryn M., Stewart, Willie, Kinch, Kevin, Töpf, Ana, Straub, Volker, Quinlivan, Rosaline, Farrugia, Maria Elena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cohort Studies; Exercise intolerance; Female; Genotype; Glycogen Storage Disease Type V - genetics; Homozygote; Humans; Male; Mcardle disease; Middle Aged; Muscle Weakness - pathology; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Mutation; Myoglobinuria - genetics; Phenotype; Retrospective Studies; Rhabdomyolysis; Rhabdomyolysis - genetics; Scotland; Second wind
• ISSN: 0960-8966; 1873-2364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.05.009

•Despite symptom onset in childhood, late onset presentations are frequent.•The pathognomic second wind phenomenon may not be volunteered by the patient.•Rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria are not universally present in all McArdle patients.•Fixed muscle weakness is common, particularly in patients older than 40 years.•The condition may be associated with comorbid cardiac and psychological disease. This retrospective study evaluated the phenotypic and genotypic features of 14 patients with McArdle disease attending the West of Scotland adult muscle clinic. Although all patients experienced exercise-induced cramps, exercise intolerance and hyperCKaemia, only 71% (n = 10) experienced the second wind phenomenon, rhabdomyolysis and/or myoglobinuria. We observed a high rate of fixed muscle weakness (50%; n = 7), coronary artery disease (36%; n = 5), and psychological comorbidity (50%; n = 7). Although 79% had symptom onset in the first decade of life, the mean age at presentation and at genetic diagnosis was 43.8 years and 47.7 years, respectively. 93% had at least one copy of the common PYGM pathogenic variant, c.148C > T, p.(Arg50*), with 50% (n = 7) of the cohort being homozygous. Our cohort highlights the phenotypic variability seen in McArdle disease and underscores the potential for late-onset presentations. It emphasises the need for improved awareness and recognition of this condition amongst neurologists, rheumatologists and general physicians. A history of exercise intolerance and second wind phenomenon may not always be volunteered by the patient, underscoring the need to ask specific questions in clinic to extrapolate the relevant symptoms in this patient cohort.