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- Title
McArdle Disease: A Unique Study Model in Sports Medicine.
- Authors
Santalla, Alfredo; Nogales-Gadea, Gisela; Ørtenblad, Niels; Brull, Astrid; Luna, Noemi; Pinós, Tomàs; Lucia, Alejandro
- Abstract
McArdle disease is arguably the paradigm of exercise intolerance in humans. This disorder is caused by inherited deficiency of myophosphorylase, the enzyme isoform that initiates glycogen breakdown in skeletal muscles. Because patients are unable to obtain energy from their muscle glycogen stores, this disease provides an interesting model of study for exercise physiologists, allowing insight to be gained into the understanding of glycogen-dependent muscle functions. Of special interest in the field of muscle physiology and sports medicine are also some specific (if not unique) characteristics of this disorder, such as the so-called 'second wind' phenomenon, the frequent exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria episodes suffered by patients (with muscle damage also occurring under basal conditions), or the early appearance of fatigue and contractures, among others. In this article we review the main pathophysiological features of this disorder leading to exercise intolerance as well as the currently available therapeutic possibilities. Patients have been traditionally advised by clinicians to refrain from exercise, yet sports medicine and careful exercise prescription are their best allies at present because no effective enzyme replacement therapy is expected to be available in the near future. As of today, although unable to restore myophosphorylase deficiency, the 'simple' use of exercise as therapy seems probably more promising and practical for patients than more 'complex' medical approaches.
- Subjects
ADENOSINE triphosphate metabolism; BRAIN metabolism; SKELETAL muscle physiology; MUSCLE protein metabolism; ENZYME metabolism; PHYSIOLOGICAL adaptation; BLOOD sugar; CARDIAC output; ENERGY metabolism; ENZYMES; EXERCISE physiology; EXERCISE therapy; FATIGUE (Physiology); GENE therapy; GLYCOGEN; HEART beat; INFLAMMATION; LIVER; MUSCLE contraction; MUSCLE diseases; PHYSICAL fitness; RHABDOMYOLYSIS; SKELETAL muscle; MUSCLE weakness; EXERCISE tolerance; INBORN errors of carbohydrate metabolism; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Sports Medicine, 2014, Vol 44, Issue 11, p1531
- ISSN
0112-1642
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s40279-014-0223-5