Lecocytes mutation load declines with age in carriers of the m.3243A>G mutation: A 10-year Prospective Cohort

Carriers of the mitochondrial mutation m.3243A>G presents highly variable phenotypes including mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactoacidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). We conducted a follow-up study to evaluate changes in leucocyte heteroplasmy and the clinical phenotypes in m.3243A>G carriers. Leucocyte heteroplasmy was determined by next generation sequencing covered by 100 000X reads in 32 individuals with a median follow-up of 10.2 years. Ten-year clinical follow-up is reported in 46 individuals. The annual leucocyte mutation level declined by -0.7 (±0.4) percentage points/year (P < .0001), and correlated with the level of the initial sample (ρ = -0.92, P < .0001). Eleven of 46 m.3243A>G carriers died and clinical symptoms progressed. This longitudinal study shows the decline in leucocyte m.3243A>G heteroplasmy associates with the level of the initial sample. Further, there was a high mortality among carriers.