When laziness unveils the disease - a case of McArdle disease

Abstract

McArdle’s disease is a rare, autosomal recessive disease, manifesting through exercise intolerance, myalgia and myoglobinuria crises by rhabdomyolysis. Renal failure and muscular ischemia associated with inhaled anesthetics and muscle relaxants may occur. This is a case of a 38-year-old man who presented repeated complaints of fatigue, palpitations and “feeling that the muscle blocked up and shrunk” (sic) during exercise, forcing him to stop. These complaints occurred since adolescence and ceased with exercise reduction. The patient was evaluated and had a CPK of 554mcg/L, without other alterations in the exams, thus being referred to a Neurology appointment by his family doctor. He then was submitted to a muscular biopsy which later revealed McArdle’s disease. The family doctor should be able to manage cases that arise nonspecifically, valuing specific and persistent complaints over time and remain alert for situations that suggest an uncommon disease.