Abstract
We investigated whether the second wind phenomenon (ie, a decrease in heart rate and perceived exertion during exercise) is pathognomonic for McArdle's disease. Twenty-four patients with McArdle's disease, 17 healthy subjects, and 25 patients with other inborn errors of muscle metabolism cycled a constant workload for 15 minutes. In McArdle's disease patients, heart rate consistently decreased by 35 ± 3 beats per minute from the 7 th to the 15th minute of exercise, whereas heart rate increased progressively with exercise in all 42 control subjects. The findings indicate that cycling at a moderate, constant workload provides a specific, sensitive, and simple diagnostic test for McArdle's disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 539-542 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Annals of Neurology |
Volume | 54 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2003 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology