Deep white matter pathologic features in watershed regions: a novel pattern of central nervous system involvement in MELAS.

نویسندگان

  • Liana G Apostolova
  • Matthew White
  • Steven A Moore
  • Patricia H Davis
چکیده

BACKGROUND Myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome typically manifests in adults younger than 40 years with encephalopathy, stroke-like episodes, and lactic acidosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities typically involve the cortical gray and the adjacent subcortical white matter. OBJECTIVE To describe a 58-year-old woman diagnosed with MELAS who was initially seen with acute myopathy, cardiac ischemia, psychosis, and MRI changes in a watershed distribution. RESULTS Initial MRI of the brain showed the characteristic parieto-occipital gray matter lesions involving the adjacent white matter. Follow-up MRI revealed striking deep white matter involvement in a watershed distribution. A cerebral angiogram and thorough hypercoagulable workup results were normal. Electromyography showed acute denervation and myopathy. A muscle biopsy specimen revealed ragged red and cytochrome-c oxidase-negative fibers. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed an A3243G mutation. CONCLUSIONS Myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes should be considered in older patients with myopathy, cardiomyopathy, encephalopathy, and unaccountable MRI findings. Watershed pathologic features are a rare pattern of cerebral involvement in MELAS.

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عنوان ژورنال:
  • Archives of neurology

دوره 62 7  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2005