McArdle's disease: Diagnostic approach after clinical symptoms of vigorous exercise intolerance in a snowboarder in Alpes / Enfermedad de McArdle: enfoque diagnóstico después de los síntomas clínicos de intolerancia al ejercicio vigoroso en un snowboarder en los Alpes

ABSTRACT McArdle's disease (glycogen storage disease type V) is an energy-dependent disorder of skeletal muscle caused by a deficiency of myophosphorylase, an important enzyme of carbohydrate metabolism that converts glycogen to glucose-1-phosphate. A 46 year-old man was sent to the rheumatology outpatient department with a 3-year history of severe exercise-induced cramps and myalgias. The episodes began when he worked in France and used to practice ski and snowboard in the Alps Mountain, with exercise intolerance, muscle cramps, and myoglobinuria. The laboratory results showed elevated serum creatine kinase levels (~15,000 U/L), and the biopsy of the deltoid muscle revealed glycogen subsarcolemmal vacuoles and absence of myophosphorylase enzymatic activity. This clinical case emphasises the importance of taking into account this metabolic disorder when faced with a patient with exercise intolerance and cramps, especially after vigorous/anaerobic exercise and elevated levels of CK activity. It is fundamental to explain the aetiology of the patient symptoms in order to improve quality of life and avoid unnecessary complications.

R E S U M E N La enfermedad de McArdle (enfermedad de almacenamiento de glucógeno tipo V) es un trastorno del músculo esquelético dependiente de la energía causado por una deficiencia de miofosforilasa, una importante enzima del metabolismo de los hidratos de carbono que convierte el glucógeno en glucosa-1-fosfato. Un hombre de 46 años de edad fue enviado al departamento de reumatología para pacientes ambulatorios con un historial de 3 años de calambres y mialgias severos inducidos por el ejercicio. Los episodios comenzaron cuando trabajó en Francia y solía practicar esquí y snowboard en el macizo de los Alpes, con intolerancia al ejercicio, calambres musculares y mioglobinuria. Las pruebas de laboratorio mostraron niveles elevados de creatina quinasa sérica (~ 15.000 U/l) y la biopsia del músculo deltoides reveló vacuolas subsarcolémicas de glucógeno y ausencia de actividad enzimática de la miofosforilasa. Nuestro caso clínico enfatiza la importancia de pensar en este trastorno metabólico cuando tenemos un paciente con intolerancia al ejercicio y calambres, especialmente después de un ejercicio vigoroso/anaeróbico y niveles elevados de actividad CK. Es fundamental explicar la etiología de los síntomas del paciente para mejorar la calidad de vida y evitar complicaciones innecesarias.

Yolk Sac Tumor of the Temporal Lobe: Case Report

Germ cell tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) are usually located along the midline. Yolk sac tumor is a rare germ cell tumor very uncommonly located outside the midline, and, in such cases, it can be mistaken with other primary tumors. We report a case of a 32-year-old male patient who presented with a right temporal lobe tumor suggestive of a high grade glioma. He was submitted to a right temporal lobectomy with complete tumor removal. The histological exam revealed a germ cell tumor (later confirmed to be a yolk sac tumor). The search for a primary tumor outside of the CNS (including a positron emission tomography scan) was negative, making this a primary temporal lobe yolk sac tumor. The patient was submitted to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but died 7 months after the surgery.

Nonprimary Cytomegalovirus Fetal Infection / Infeção fetal não primária por citomegalovírus

Abstract Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital viral infection, causing hearing, visual and psychomotor impairment. Preexisting maternal CMV immunity substantially reduces, but not eliminates, the risk of fetal infection and affectation. This article is about a case of nonprimary maternal CMV infection during pregnancy, with vertical transmission, resulting in severe fetal affectation. Preconceptional analysis indicated maternal CMV past infection. Pregnancy progressed uneventfully until the 20th week ultrasound (US), which revealed cerebral abnormalities: thin and hyperechogenic cerebral cortex with prominent lateral ventricles, bilateral periventricular hyperechogenicities, cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and absent corpus callosum. The MRI suggested these findings were compatible with congenital infection rather than primary brain malformation. The fetal karyotype was normal. The title of CMV's IgG antibodies almost tripled. Since the first semester,analysisof the polymerasechainreaction(PCR)forCMVDNAintheamniotic fluid was negative. The pregnancy was terminatedat 23weeks. Neuropathologicalfindings at autopsy showed severe brain lesions associated with CMV infection.

Resumo O citomegalovírus (CMV) é a infeção viral congénita que mais comumente causa deficiência auditiva, visual e psicomotora. A preexistência de imunidade materna reduz substancialmente, mas não elimina, o risco de infeção e afetação fetal. Trata-se de um caso de infeção materna não primária por CMV durante a gravidez, com transmissão vertical, resultando em afetação fetal severa. As análises preconcepção indicavam infecção passada por CMV. A gravidez decorreu sem intercorrências até a ecografia efetuada na 20ª semana, que revelou alterações cerebrais: córtex cerebral fino e hiperecogénico com ventrículos laterais proeminentes, hiperecogenecidades periventriculares bilaterais, hipoplasia do vérmis cerebeloso e ausência de corpo caloso. A ressonância magnética sugeriu que estes achados eram mais favoráveis a uma infeção congénita do que com uma malformação cerebral primária. O cariótipo fetal era normal. O título de anticorpos IgG para CMV havia triplicado desde a dosagem do primeiro trimestre. O PCR para o DNA do CMV no líquido amniótico foi negativo. A gravidez foi interrompida na 23ª semana. Os achados neuropatológicos na autópsia mostraram lesões cerebrais severas associadas a infeção por CMV.

Chondroma of the Cerebral Falx: Case Report of a Very Rare Intracranial Tumor / Condroma da foice do cérebro: relato de caso de um tumor intracraniano muito raro

Chondromas are a benign cartilaginous tumor that account for approximately 0.5% of primary intracranial tumors. They usually arise from the synchondrosis of the skull base, being rarely reported elsewhere (dura convexity, falx, or even intraparenchymal). Because they are very rare tumors sharing clinical behavior and imagiological similarities with the much more common meningioma, the clinical diagnosis is frequently mistaken after an initial imaging workup. The authors present a case of a 48-year-old woman, with frequent headaches and an extra-axial tumor arising from the anterior falx, initially diagnosed as a meningioma.

Condromas são tumores cartilaginosos benignos que correspondem por aproximadamente 0,5% dos tumores primários intracranianos. Eles geralmente surgem da sincondrose da base do crânio, sendo raramente registrados em outros locais como a convexidade dural, a foice, até mesmo no parênquima cerebral. Por serem tumores muito raros que compartilham comportamento clínico e imagiológico com meningiomas, o diagnóstico é frequentemente confundido após exame de imagem inicial. Os autores apresentam o caso de uma mulher de 48 anos, com cefaleia frequente e um tumor extra-axial ascendendo da foice anterior, inicialmente diagnosticado como um meningioma.