Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1985 Sep;48(9):882–886. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.48.9.882

Tubular aggregates: their association with myalgia.

E Niakan, Y Harati, M J Danon
PMCID: PMC1028488  PMID: 2995591

Abstract

Three thousand consecutive muscle biopsies were reviewed for the presence of tubular aggregates and their association with clinical symptomatology. Tubular aggregates were detected in 19 patients (0.6%). Twelve of these nineteen patients had severe myalgia, and the most abundant tubular aggregates were found in biopsies of patients with myalgia. Seven patients had only myalgia as their clinical symptomatology with normal physical examination. An additional five patients with tubular aggregates and myalgia had concomitant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (2) or neuropathy (3). The high incidence of myalgia associated with tubular aggregates in our patients and the fact that tubular aggregates originate from sarcoplasmic reticulum suggest a role played by this structure in the pathogenesis of myalgia.

Full text

PDF
882

Images in this article

883Image
on p.883
884Image
on p.884

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bergman R. A., Afifi A. K., Dunkle L. M., Johns R. J. Muscle pathology in hypokalemic periodic paralysis with hyperthyroidism. I. High resolution light microscopic study of a case. Johns Hopkins Med J. 1970 Feb;126(2):88–99. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bove K. E., Iannaccone S. T., Hilton P. K., Samaha F. Cylindrical spirals in a familial neuromuscular disorder. Ann Neurol. 1980 Jun;7(6):550–556. doi: 10.1002/ana.410070608. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brumback R. A., Staton R. D., Susag M. E. Exercise-induced pain, stiffness, and tubular aggregation in skeletal muscle. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1981 Mar;44(3):250–254. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.44.3.250. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Carpenter S., Karpati G., Robitaille Y., Melmed C. Cylindrical spirals in human skeletal muscle. Muscle Nerve. 1979 Jul-Aug;2(4):282–287. doi: 10.1002/mus.880020407. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Chokroverty S., Reyes M. G., Rubino F. A., Tonaki H. The syndrome of diabetic amyotrophy. Ann Neurol. 1977 Sep;2(3):181–194. doi: 10.1002/ana.410020303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chui L. A., Neustein H., Munsat T. L. Tubular aggregates in subclinical alcoholic myopathy. Neurology. 1975 May;25(5):405–412. doi: 10.1212/wnl.25.5.405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Craig I. D., Allen I. V. Tubular aggregates in murine dystrophy heterozygotes. Muscle Nerve. 1980 Mar-Apr;3(2):134–140. doi: 10.1002/mus.880030206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Cullen M. J., Weightman D. The ultrastruct of normal human muscle in relation to fibre type. J Neurol Sci. 1975 May;25(1):43–56. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(75)90185-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dobkin B. H., Verity M. A. Familial neuromuscular disease with type 1 fiber hypoplasia, tubular aggregates, cardiomyopathy, and myasthenic features. Neurology. 1978 Nov;28(11):1135–1140. doi: 10.1212/wnl.28.11.1135. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Duchen L. W. Changes in the electron microscopic structure of slow and fast skeletal muscle fibres of the mouse after the local injection of botulinum toxin. J Neurol Sci. 1971 Sep;14(1):61–74. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(71)90130-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Duchen L. W. The local effects of tetanus toxin on the electron microscopic structure of skeletal muscle fibres of the mouse. J Neurol Sci. 1973 Jun;19(2):169–177. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(73)90160-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Dunkle L. M., Diggs C. H., Bergman R. A., Johns R. J. A light and electron microscopic study of a second case of hypokalemic periodic paralysis with hyperthyroidism. Johns Hopkins Med J. 1970 Apr;126(4):225–236. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Dyken M., Zeman W., Rusche T. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Children with permanent myopathic weakness. Neurology. 1969 Jul;19(7):691–699. doi: 10.1212/wnl.19.7.691. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Engel A. G., Lambert E. H., Mulder D. M., Torres C. F., Sahashi K., Bertorini T. E., Whitaker J. N. A newly recognized congenital myasthenic syndrome attributed to a prolonged open time of the acetylcholine-induced ion channel. Ann Neurol. 1982 Jun;11(6):553–569. doi: 10.1002/ana.410110603. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Engel W. K., Bishop D. W., Cunningham G. G. Tubular aggregates in type II muscle fibers: ultrastructural and histochemical correlation. J Ultrastruct Res. 1970 Jun;31(5-6):507–525. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(70)90166-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Fardeau M., Tomé F. M., Simon P. Muscle and nerve changes induced by perhexiline maleate in man and mice. Muscle Nerve. 1979 Jan-Feb;2(1):24–36. doi: 10.1002/mus.880020105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Gallai M. Myopathy with hyperaldosteronism. An electron-microscopic study. J Neurol Sci. 1977 Jul;32(3):337–345. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(77)90017-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Gibbels E., Henke U., Schädlich H. J., Haupt W. F., Fiehn W. Cylindrical spirals in skeletal muscle: a further observation with clinical, morphological, and biochemical analysis. Muscle Nerve. 1983 Nov-Dec;6(9):646–655. doi: 10.1002/mus.880060905. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Lazaro R. P., Fenichel G. M., Kilroy A. W., Saito A., Fleischer S. Cramps, muscle pain, and tubular aggregates. Arch Neurol. 1980 Nov;37(11):715–717. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1980.00500600063013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lewis P. D., Pallis C., Pearse A. G. "Myopathy" with tubular aggregates. J Neurol Sci. 1971 Aug;13(4):381–388. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(71)90001-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Macdonald R. D., Rewcastle N. B., Humphrey J. G. The myopathy of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis. An electron microscopic study. Arch Neurol. 1968 Sep;19(3):274–283. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1968.00480030052005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. McDougall J., Wiles C. M., Edwards R. H. Spiral membrane cylinders in the skeletal muscle of a patient with melorheostosis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 1980 Jan-Feb;6(1):69–74. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.1980.tb00205.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Meyers K. R., Gilden D. H., Rinaldi C. F., Hansen J. L. Periodic muscle weakness, normokalemia, and tubular aggregates. Neurology. 1972 Mar;22(3):269–279. doi: 10.1212/wnl.22.3.269. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Mills K. R., Edwards R. H. Investigative strategies for muscle pain. J Neurol Sci. 1983 Jan;58(1):73–78. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(83)90111-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Morgan-Hughes J. A., Lecky B. R., Landon D. N., Murray N. M. Alterations in the number and affinity of junctional acetylcholine receptors in a myopathy with tubular aggregates. A newly recognized receptor defect. Brain. 1981 Jun;104(2):279–295. doi: 10.1093/brain/104.2.279. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Morgan-Hughes J. A., Mair W. G., Lascelles P. T. A disorder of skeletal muscle associated with tubular aggregates. Brain. 1970;93(4):873–880. doi: 10.1093/brain/93.4.873. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Odor D. L., Patel A. N., Pearce L. A. Familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis with permanent myopathy. A clinical and ultrastructural study. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1967 Jan;26(1):98–114. doi: 10.1097/00005072-196701000-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. PRICE H. M., HOWES E. L., Jr, BLUMBERG J. M. ULTRASTRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS IN SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS INJURED BY COLD. I. THE ACUTE DEGENERATIVE CHANGES. Lab Invest. 1964 Oct;13:1264–1278. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. SRETER F. A. COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON WHITE AND RED MUSCLE FRACTIONS. Fed Proc. 1964 Sep-Oct;23:930–932. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Schiaffino S., Severin E., Cantini M., Sartore S. Tubular aggregates induced by anoxia in isolated rat skeletal muscle. Lab Invest. 1977 Sep;37(3):223–228. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Schiffer D., Giordana M. T., Monga G., Mollo F. Histochemistry and electron microscopy of muscle fibres in a case of congenital paramyotonia. J Neurol. 1976 Jan 14;211(2):125–133. doi: 10.1007/BF00313356. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Schotland D. L. Ultrastructural abnormalities in myotonic dystrophy including an unusual T system alteration. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1968 Jan;27(1):109–110. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Sipilä I., Simell O., Rapola J., Sainio K., Tuuteri L. Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina with hyperornithinemia: tubular aggregates and type 2 fiber atrophy in muscle. Neurology. 1979 Jul;29(7):996–1005. doi: 10.1212/wnl.29.7.996. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Smith R., Hughes R. L., Borensztajn J., Segura R. P., Sahgal V. Focal muscle cramps in a young man. Possible myopathy with tubular aggregates. Chest. 1983 May;83(5):795–800. doi: 10.1378/chest.83.5.795. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. del Villar Negro A., Merino Angulo J., Rivera Pomar J. M., Aguirre Errasti C. Tubular aggregates in skeletal muscle of chronic alcoholic patients. Acta Neuropathol. 1982;56(4):250–254. doi: 10.1007/BF00691255. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES