Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of adult-onset mitochondrial encephalopathy due to m.4296G>A gene abnormality

Kai Takahashi, M.D.1), Kanako Yamahara, M.D.1), Kouhei Ito, M.D.2), Kazuhiro Iwaoka, M.D.1), Yuichi Goto, M.D.3) and Yasuo Terayama, M.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology and Gerontology, Iwate Medical University
2)Department of Internal Medicine, Hachinohe Red Cross Hospital
3)Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry

The case is a 30-year-old woman. From the age of 25 years, she had several episodes of cortical blindness and visited a local doctor. Mitochondrial disease was suspected based on findings of cerebral infarction-like imaging and a history of diabetes. However, serum and cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels were normal and no abnormal muscle pathology was found. At the age of 30 years, she visited our hospital with impaired consciousness, cortical blindness, and tremor-like involuntary movements in the neck and right fingers. Brain MRI showed abnormal signals in bilateral basal ganglia, with an increased lactate peak by magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels. Mitochondrial gene analysis identified a m.4296G>A gene mutation. Consequently, we reached a diagnosis of mitochondrial encephalopathy. Adult-onset mitochondrial encephalopathy with m.4296G>A gene mutation is extremely rare. This case showed clinical features caused by damage of both the cerebral cortex and subcortical basal ganglia.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (1745K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 59: 636－640, 2019)
key words: mitochondrial encephalopathy, m.4296G>A, Leigh syndrome, lactic acid, cortical blindness

(Received: 5-Mar-19)