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Cerebral blood flow in mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes
Background And Purpose:
The precise mechanism of neurological symptoms with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes (MELAS) is still controversial. We investigated the correlation between strokelike episodes and cerebral blood flow in two patients with MELAS and discuss the pathogenesis of strokelike episodes with MELAS.
Summary Of Report:
Cerebral dynamic computed tomography and cerebral angiography were used to measure cerebral circulation in the first case, that of a 20-year-old woman with MELAS. The second subject was a 13-year-old female who was studied with xenon-enhanced computed tomography. The cerebral blood flow studies were performed 3-72 hours after the onset of strokelike episodes. Serial cerebral angiography, dynamic computed tomography, and xenon-enhanced computed tomography showed vasodilation localized in the affected cerebral cortexes during strokelike episodes, without any reduction in regional cerebral blood flow.
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that the strokelike episodes associated with MELAS are different in origin from ischemic stroke.
Insights
Strokelike episodes in MELAS patients show localized cerebral vasodilation, not reduced blood flow. This suggests a different origin than ischemic stroke, offering new insights into MELAS pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Mitochondrial Diseases
Background:
- Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes (MELAS) presents with controversial neurological mechanisms.
- Understanding the pathogenesis of strokelike episodes in MELAS is crucial for patient management.