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Living with Glycogen storage disease type X

Also called phosphoglycerate mutase deficiency: a muscle condition with aches and cramps after hard exercise, starting in childhood or the teen years.

Understanding Glycogen storage disease type X

Glycogen storage disease type X, or phosphoglycerate mutase deficiency, is a disorder that mainly affects the skeletal muscles used for movement.

Starting in childhood or adolescence, people have muscle aches or cramping after strenuous activity. Some have repeated episodes of myoglobinuria, in which muscle breaks down and releases a protein into the urine, which if untreated can lead to kidney failure. In some people, small tube-shaped structures called tubular aggregates are seen in muscle fibers.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. The summary describes these:

  • Muscle aches after strenuous activity
  • Muscle cramps
  • Rust-colored urine from muscle breakdown (myoglobinuria)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in PGAM2 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Muscular Dystrophy Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Muscular Dystrophy Association
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can genetic testing confirm a change in the PGAM2 gene?
What should I do if my urine turns dark after exercise?
How can I protect my kidneys during activity?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startChild and as a Teenager
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesPGAM2

Changes in the PGAM2 gene cause this condition. A child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent (autosomal recessive).

GeneticNeurologicalInherited Metabolic

Also known as: dimauro disease; glycogen storage disease caused by mutation in pgam2; glycogen storage disease due to phosphoglycerate mutase deficiency; glycogen storage disease type 10; glycogenosis due to phosphoglycerate mutase deficiency; gsd due to phosphoglycerate mutase deficiency

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Glycogen storage disease type XGARD ID 9964 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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