A novel PHKA1 mutation associating myopathy and cognitive impairment: Expanding the spectrum of phosphorylase kinase b (PhK) deficiency

Abstract

Muscle phosphorylase kinase b deficiency (PhK) is a rare disorder of glycogen metabolism characterized by exercise-induced myalgia and cramps, myoglobinuria and progressive muscle weakness. PhK deficiency is due to mutations in the PHKA1 gene inherited in an X-linked manner and is associated to glycogenosis type VIII (GSD VIII also called GSD IXd). PHKA1 gene codes for the αM subunit of the PhK, a multimeric protein complex responsible for the control of glycogen breakdown in muscle. Until now, few patients have been reported with X-linked recessive muscle PhK deficiency due to PHKA1 mutations. All reported patients presented with exercise intolerance and mild myopathy and one of them had cognitive impairment, leading to speculate about a central nervous system involvement in GSD VIII. Here we report in a sibling a novel mutation in the PHKA1 gene associated with a progressive myopathy, exercise intolerance, muscle hypertrophy and cognitive impairment as an associated feature. This report expands the genetic and clinical spectrum of the extremely rare PHKA1-related PhK deficiency and presents new evidences about its involvement in brain development.