Related Experiment Videos
Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, progressive visual loss, and multiple-sclerosis-like symptoms
M Tran1, R Bhargava, I M MacDonald
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada.
Purpose:
To report a case of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy with multiple-sclerosis-like symptoms.
Methods:
Observational case report. A 34-year-old man was found to have Leber hereditary optic neuropathy and a mutation at position 11778 of the mitochondrial genome. The progression of vision loss and onset of weakness in the right leg warranted neuroimaging.
Results:
Magnetic resonance imaging documented multiple lesions in the brain and spinal cord.
Conclusion:
Although rarely reported, progression of optic neuropathy over months has been previously documented in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. The emergence of multiple sclerosis-like symptoms and signs in our patient may be part of the spectrum of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy or a coincidental occurrence.