Abstract: ObjectiveTo compare the appearance of abnormal lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle fibers in various neuromuscular disorders by analyzing the results of Oil-Red-O staining of muscle biopsy samples. Methods523 muscle biopsies performed in 1998—2002,consisted of lipid storage myopathy, mitochondrial diseases, inflammatory myopathy, muscular dystrophy, steroid myopathy, alcoholic myopathy and neurogenic muscle atrophy,were studed. ResultsType Ⅰ fibers were selectively involved in lipid storage of muscle fibers.In all diseases, men were more frequently affected than momen in which men to women was 3∶2.Marked uniformity lipid storage in muscle fibers was found most frequently in patients with lipid storage myopathy and mitochondrien-lipid-glycogene storage diseases. Moderate uniformity lipid storage in the muscle fibers was found in patients with steroid myopathy, alcoholic myopathy and malnutrition. Moderate or marked non-uniformity lipid storage in muscle fibers was found in patients with mitochondrial cytopathy, inflammatory myopathy, muscular dystrophy. Moderate non-uniformity lipid storage in muscle fibers was found in patients with neurogenic muscle atrophy. Mild lipid storage in muscle fibers was found in numerous systemic disease and neuromuscular disorders. ConclusionNumerous neuromuscular diseases can associated with abnormal lipid metabolism in muscle fibers, in which the men are more involved than women. The appearance of lipid accumulation in the muscle fibers markedly changes in different neuromuscular diseases. The diagnostic value of lipid storage in muscle fibers should be considered under analysis clinical symptoms and other myopathological findings.

Key words: muscle bopsy, lipid metablism, neuromuscular disorders