GSD7 – TARUI DISEASE
Also known as muscle phosphofructokinase deficiency. People with Tarui’s have nearly identical symptoms as McArdle’s people but do not experience the same “second-wind”.
Estimated cases diagnosed worldwide: <200.
QUICK OVERVIEW
SYMPTOMS
Muscle pain and fatigue on everyday activity and exercise. Fixed contracture with rhabdomyolysis. Raised baseline CK.
SECONDARY
Myoglobinuria, nausea and vomiting following strenuous exercise.
ONSET
Infantile, childhood, late-onset.
INVOLVED
Skeletal muscle.
TREATMENT
Avoid anaerobic exercise. Maintain a healthy diet, low in carbohydrates.
OUTLOOK
Good with avoidance of anaerobic and isometric activity.
Tarui disease results from a deficiency in the PFKM gene, impairing synthesis of muscle phosphofructokinase.
CLINICAL FEATURES
The clinical features of GSD7 are similar to those of GSD5 (McArdle disease) with onset of more severe fatigue and muscle pain early in exercise. People with Tarui disease cannot utilise glucose in the muscles. Sometimes there is nausea and vomiting after intense exercise. Symptoms are evident in childhood. Patients may display a hemolytic anemia. There is said to be no McArdle-like “second-wind”, although some patients report a second-wind starting rather later.
ENERGY SHORTAGE
GSD7 is caused by a deficiency of the phosphofructokinase enzyme which is needed to facilitate the breakdown of glucose into energy in muscle during exercise. The body breaks down muscle (rhabdomyolysis) when trying to attain energy, which causes symptoms such as muscle pain, cramping, fatigue and tenderness. The red protein myoglobin is released and red-brown urine may be seen.
GENETIC CONDITION
The enzyme deficiency is due to abnormalities in the muscle phosphofructokinase gene, PFKM, and is inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic disorder.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis is by genetic testing or muscle biopsy, which will show a deficiency of muscle phosphofructokinase and a modest accumulation of glycogen. Treatment primarily consists of avoiding strenuous exercise. Some patients have been helped by a high protein diet, others by a low carbohydrate high fat diet. It has been reported that only 100 to 200 cases have been identified worldwide.
RECENT RESEARCH
For details of research papers you can search PubMed for “Glycogen Storage Disease Type VII”.
PERSONAL STORIES
Check out the personal stories we have. Including Jeremy Michelson’s story (see blue box above), there are at least two about people with GSD7 Tarui. We would like to add more.
CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Clinical Practice Guidelines for both GSD5 and GSD7 have been prepared by an international team lead by IamGSD and published in Neuromuscular Disorders, the journal of the World Muscle Society. They are available free under Open Access. Click here for more details.
PAPER ON KETOGENIC DIET
Here is a link to download a PDF of a recent case report on the beneficial effect of a ketogenic diet in GSD7.
GSD7 FACEBOOK GROUP
We have a Facebook group dedicated to GSD7 and the number of members is building, now with over 120. It can be very helpful to share with others affected by the same condition. For more details and a link go to our page for “Join social media”.