Aerobic conditioning: an effective therapy in McArdle's disease

Ronald G Haller, Phil Wyrick, Tanja Taivassalo, John Vissing

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Susceptibility to exertional cramps and rhabdomyolysis in myophosphorylase deficiency (McArdle's disease [MD]) may lead patients to shun exercise. However, physical inactivity may worsen exercise intolerance by further reducing the limited oxidative capacity caused by blocked glycogenolysis. We investigated whether aerobic conditioning can safely improve exercise capacity in MD.

METHODS: Eight MD patients (4 men and 4 women; age range, 33-61 years) pedalled a cycle ergometer for 30 to 40 minutes a day, 4 days a week, for 14 weeks, at an intensity corresponding to 60 to 70% of maximal heart rate. We monitored serum creatine kinase levels; changes in peak cycle work, oxygen uptake, and cardiac output; presence and magnitude of a spontaneous and glucose-induced second wind; and citrate synthase and beta-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase enzyme activities in quadriceps muscle.

RESULTS: The prescribed exercise program increased average work capacity (36%), oxygen uptake (14%), cardiac output (15%), and citrate synthase and beta-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase enzyme levels (80 and 62%, respectively) without causing pain or cramping or increasing serum creatine kinase. A spontaneous and glucose-induced second wind was present and was of similar magnitude in each patient before and after training.

INTERPRETATION: Moderate aerobic exercise is an effective means of improving exercise capacity in MD by increasing circulatory delivery and mitochondrial metabolism of bloodborne fuels.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAnnals of Neurology
Volume59
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)922-8
Number of pages7
ISSN0364-5134
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2006

Keywords

  • 3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases/metabolism
  • Adult
  • Cardiac Output/physiology
  • Citrate (si)-Synthase/metabolism
  • Creatine Kinase/blood
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Female
  • Glucose/metabolism
  • Glycogen Storage Disease Type V/therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen Consumption/physiology
  • Physical Fitness/physiology
  • Quadriceps Muscle/enzymology

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