What is mitochondrial myopathy?

Synonyms

Mitochondrial Myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, Stroke-Like Episod
Myopathy, Mitochondrial-Encephalopathy-Lactic Acidosis-Stroke
Disorder Subdivisions

None
General Discussion

MELAS syndrome is one of a group of rare muscular disorders that are called mitochondrial encephalomyopathies. Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies are disorders in which a defect in genetic material arises from a part of the cell structure that releases energy (mitochondria) resulting in disease of the brain and muscles (encephalomyopathies). This mitochondrial defect and a condition known as "ragged red fibers" (an abnormality of muscle tissue when viewed under a microscope) are typically present. The most characteristic symptom of MELAS syndrome is recurring, stroke-like episodes in which sudden headaches are followed by vomiting and seizures. Short stature, an accumulation of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis), and muscular weakness on one side of the body (hemiparesis) are typically present. Visual symptoms may include impaired vision or blindness in one half of the visual field (hemianopsia) and/or blindness due to lesions in the area of the brain concerned with vision (cortical blindness). Although the exact cause of MELAS syndrome is not fully understood, it has been found to run in families (familial

Please check: www.mayoclinic.com

Go to web m.d. or google it in

As someone who was thought to originally have GBS, then found out that I had CIDP, I'm very familiar with this one as well.

What are mitochondrial myopathies?
Mitochondrial myopathy is a collective term for a group of diseases that particularly affect muscle, but which may also affect every other part of the body including the brain and the eye. Other names for these diseases include:


Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia (CPEO)
Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (KSS)
Lactic Acidosis
Leigh鈥檚 disease
Mitochondrial Cytopathy
Mitochondrial Encephalopathy
Myoclonus Epilepsy Associated With Ragged-Red Fibres (MERRF)
Stroke-like Episodes (MELAS)


Here's some info to help you out:

http://mda.org/disease/mito.html

http://www.mdausa.org/publications/Quest...

http://www.specialchild.com/archives/dz-...

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myopa...

Try this link below it is a link to a page called Facts about mitochondrial myopathy. You may have to copy and paste it into your browser.