Page 1:

​

At hospital

with McArdle’s

Information for emergency visits

​

When to seek urgent medical attention.
Guidance for assessment and management.
References to Clinical Practice Guidelines [1].

​

Triage needed

• Patient is likely to report with severe muscle cramping or contracture/s and extreme pain [2].

• May develop rhabdomyolysis [3], myoglobinuria and a risk of Acute Renal Failure [4], with severe episodes requiring dialysis.

• Risk of Compartment Syndrome [5] requiring urgent surgical intervention to relieve pressure.

​

Introducing McArdle Disease

• McArdle disease (Glycogen Storage Disease 5) is an ultra rare genetic metabolic myopathy.

• Myophosphorylase is deficient, so glucose cannot be released from muscle glycogen.

• A severe energy crisis arises early in all physical activity and throughout isometric and anaerobic activity.

• If patient is well managed, urgent medical care is rarely needed. However, patients can make mistakes or be caught out by circumstances.