[Lysosomal glycogen storage disease without acid maltase deficiency]

Lysosomal glycogen storage disease without acid maltase deficiency is characterized by the triad of clinical manifestations (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), mental retardation, and mild myopathy), morphologic findings (glycogen storage, glycogenosomes, and autophagic vacuoles), and normal glycolytic enzyme activities. Though most of the patients suffering from the triad were males, family studies often revealed female patients with only cardiomyopathy. So far 27 cases have been reported. The cardiac involvement is progressive and fatal and as severe in females as in males. Many patients of both sexes die in their youth, unexpectedly, because of cardiac failure. The specific biochemical defect causing this disease remains unknown. From abnormal lectin staining patterns on the membrane and preclinical morphologic changes in biopsied skeletal muscle, membranous abnormality is suspected in this disease.