Acta Neuropathologica

, Volume 47, Issue 3, pp 245–247 | Cite as

Uncommon case of type II glycogenosis

  • Th. de Barsy
  • G. Ferrière
  • E. Fernandez-Alvarez
Short Original Communications

Summary

The authors report an uncommon case of type II glycogenosis. An 8-year-old boy developed a slow progressive myopathy. Biopsy of skeletal muscle showed scarce lesions under the optic microscope but in 50% of the fibers the presence of vacuoles filled with glycogen under the electron microscope.

Ultrastructural analysis of fibroblasts in culture showed numerous vacuoles filled with glycogen, characteristic of type II glycogenosis.

Enzymatic analysis revealed that acid-α-glucosidase activity was normal in muscle tissues but deeply deficient in leukocytes and fibroblasts in culture. This is, as far as we know, the first case with such a discrepancy in the distribution of the enzymatic activity, and it underlines the necessity of investigating several tissues in atypical cases.

Key words

Myopathy α-Glucosidase Lysosomes 

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References

  1. Barsy, de Th.: La glycogenose type II. Approche thérapeutique. pp. 156. Louvain: Oyez 1976Google Scholar
  2. Barsy, de Th., Jacquemin, P., Van Hoof, F., Hers, H. G.: Rodent and human acid α-glucosidase. Purification, properties, and inhibition by antibodies. Investigation in type II glycogenosis. Eur. J. Biochem.31, 156–165 (1972)Google Scholar
  3. Di Mauro, S., Stern, L. Z., Mehler, M., Nagle, T. B., Payne, C.: Adult-onset acid maltase deficiency: A post-mortem study. Muscle Nerve4, 27–36 (1978)Google Scholar
  4. Hers, H. G., de Barsy, Th.: Type II glycogenosis: Acid maltase deficiency. In: Lysosomal and storage disease, pp. 197–216. Hers, H. G., van Hoof, F. (eds.). New York: Academic Press 1973Google Scholar
  5. Martin, J. J., de Barsy, Th., Den Tandt, W.: Acid maltase deficiency in non-identical adult twins: A morphological and biochemical study. J. Neurol.213, 105–118 (1976)Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1979

Authors and Affiliations

  • Th. de Barsy
    • 1
  • G. Ferrière
    • 2
  • E. Fernandez-Alvarez
    • 3
  1. 1.Lab. de Chimie Physiologique U.C.L. and I.C.P. 75BrusselsBelgium
  2. 2.Service de Neurologie PédiatriqueU.C.L. Cliniques St. LucBrusselsBelgium
  3. 3.Hopital infantil San Juan de DiosBarcelonaSpain

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