Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with elderly onset of stroke-like episodes

Intern Med. 1996 Dec;35(12):991-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.35.991.

Abstract

A 52-year-old woman with a history of a hearing disturbance since age 20 experienced visual hallucinations and convulsions, followed by right hemiparesis and aphasia. On the basis of a muscle biopsy and mitochondrial DNA analysis, she was diagnosed as mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). This case is unique in that the stroke-like episodes occurred 30 years after disease onset.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MELAS Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies*