Pregnancy in Patients With McArdle's Disease

Area of Science:

• Metabolic disorders
• Reproductive medicine
• Neuromuscular diseases

Background:

• Hereditary metabolic disorders during pregnancy are rare and their influence is often unclear.
• McArdle's disease (Glycogen storage disease type V) does not affect fertility, leading to reported pregnancies in affected individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze published cases of pregnancy in women with McArdle's disease.
• To focus on pregnancy evolution, delivery, and postpartum clinical outcomes.
• To provide guidance for better patient counseling and complication prevention.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search using PRISMA guidelines.
• Databases searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Dialnet, and Ata Portuguesa de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia.
• Keywords used: 'pregnancy' combined with 'McArdle's Disease', 'Type V Glycogenosis', or 'Myophosphorylase'.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 13 articles covering 26 patients and 37 pregnancies.
• Most pregnancies (75.7%) had no reported complications; symptom improvement was noted in many patients.
• Complications included rhabdomyolysis (10.8% during pregnancy, 3 cases postpartum), gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and worsening heart failure in one case.

Conclusions:

• Pregnancy in McArdle's disease patients appears to have a similar or lower complication rate compared to the general population.
• Symptomatic improvement of McArdle's disease during pregnancy is possible.
• Implementing specific protocols for pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care is recommended to reduce rhabdomyolysis episodes.