A mild adult myopathic variant of type IV glycogenosis

Neuromuscul Disord. 1996 Mar;6(2):95-9. doi: 10.1016/0960-8966(95)00031-3.

Abstract

Type IV glycogenosis is usually a rapidly progressive disease of early childhood, causing death before 4 years of age. It is characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, cirrhosis, and chronic hepatic failure. Muscle involvement is generally overshadowed by liver disease. A mild non-infantile variant of type IV glycogenosis has been described in a few patients. In some of them, the patients suffered foremost from chronic progressive myopathy. We here report on a female patient aged 51 years who had experienced difficulties in climbing stairs for 2 years due to leg weakness. EMG revealed a myopathic pattern. The muscle biopsy findings revealed polyglycosan bodies. Biochemical investigation showed absence of branching enzyme in muscle but not in leukocytes and fibroblasts.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cytoplasm / ultrastructure
  • Female
  • Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV / pathology*
  • Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / ultrastructure
  • Muscle, Skeletal / ultrastructure