Neuromuscular Junction Abnormalities in Mitochondrial Disease: An Observational Cohort Study

To determine the prevalence of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) abnormalities in patients with mitochondrial disease.

Eighty patients with genetically proven mitochondrial disease were recruited from a national center for mitochondrial disease in the United Kingdom. Participants underwent detailed clinical and neurophysiologic testing including single-fiber electromyography.

The overall prevalence of neuromuscular transmission defects was 25.6%. The highest prevalence was in patients with pathogenic dominant RRM2B variants (50%), but abnormalities were found in a wide range of mitochondrial genotypes. The presence of NMJ abnormalities was strongly associated with coexistent myopathy, but not with neuropathy. Furthermore, 15% of patients with NMJ abnormality had no evidence of either myopathy or neuropathy.

NMJ transmission defects are common in mitochondrial disease. In some patients, NMJ dysfunction occurs in the absence of obvious pre- or post-synaptic pathology, suggesting that the NMJ may be specifically affected.