Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) in a two-year-old Filipino child

ABSTRACT

MELAS is a mitochondrial respiratory chain disorder characterized by progressive neurodegeneration associated with stroke-like episode, increased plasma lactate levels and distinctive findings on neuroimaging studies. Hence we onset of right-sided hemiplegia accompanied by lactic acidosis and CT-Scan findings of diffuse hypodensity of the cerebral white matter at the time of the stroke-like episode. The diagnosis was confirmed by mutation analysis on blood and hair which showed the typical mtDNA A3243G mutation. This is the first local report of a confirmed case of MELAS.