[Molecular diagnosis of mitochondrial disorders]

Mitochondrial disorders are caused by either nuclear or mitochondrial DNA abnormalities. The latter but not the former can be examined as a means of diagnosis at present. The peculiarities and problems of the mtDNA test depend strongly on the characteristics of mtDNA itself, such as the multiplicity in number, vulnerability to mutation, and maternal transmission. The mtDNA abnormalities observed in patients with mitochondrial disorders indicate heteroplasmy, tissue/cell specificity, and threshold effects. It should be stressed that the presence of mutant mtDNA in an individual does not mean that he or she is ill. The problems of the mtDNA test could be solved if the genotype-phenotype relationship is farther elucidated in the future study.