Aerobic conditioning: an effective therapy in McArdle's disease.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate aerobic exercise is an effective means of improving exercise capacity in MD by increasing circulatory delivery and mitochondrial metabolism of bloodborne fuels.
Haller
Ronald G
RG
Neuromuscular Center, Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine of Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, TX 75231, USA. ronald.haller@utsouthwestern.edu
Wyrick
Phil
P
Taivassalo
Tanja
T
Vissing
John
J
D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006012:Glycogen Storage Disease Type V / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000201:enzymology
D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D005947:Glucose