Article Text

Download PDFPDF
A mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with a partial cytochrome c oxidase deficiency of muscle.
  1. P M Van Erven,
  2. F J Gabreëls,
  3. W Ruitenbeek,
  4. W O Renier,
  5. H J Ter Laak,
  6. A M Stadhouders
  1. Institute of Neurology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

    Abstract

    A 16 year old girl showed delayed psychomotor development. In infancy, exercise intolerance, cerebellar signs, deteriorated with increasing intercurrent infections, and disturbances of breathing and cardiac rhythm became manifest. From the age of 7 years there was chronic progressive psychomotor deterioration, with hypotonia, a bilateral pyramidal and cerebellar syndrome, and mild epilepsy. CSF pyruvate and lactate levels were elevated, and lactate content was elevated in the urine. There was an abnormally high rise of lactate levels on moderate exercise and an abnormal response to pyruvate loading. Quadriceps muscle biopsies obtained at age 10 and 16 years showed ragged-red fibres, and a decreased cytochrome c oxidase activity and cytochrome aa3 content. Cytochrome c oxidase activity in fibroblasts was normal. Clinical signs and symptoms in association with a disturbance of mitochondrial energy metabolism led us to diagnosis of probable Leigh syndrome.

    Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.