[An adult case of Leigh's subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy]

Leigh's encephalomyelopathy has been mainly observed in infancy and childhood. A later onset, during adolescence or adulthood has been rarely reported. Our patient was a 35 year-old man who died after 10 months of evolution of a subacute neurological syndrome, beginning with behavioural changes then a confusional state, epileptic fits, ataxia, autonomic disorders, abnormal alimentary behaviour and dementia. Diagnosis was only obtained by neuropathology, as in most of the published reports. However this diagnosis is suggested when exists an acute or subacute neurological pattern, beginning with visual defects and alimentary and social impairment, followed by a brain-stem syndrome. CT and M.R.I. will make it more easy. An earlier diagnosis could perhaps allow to discover the suspected enzymopathy responsible for Leigh's encephalomyelopathy and make clearer the relationship between Leigh's disease and encephalopathies with abnormal mitochondria.