Abstract
We report a case of mitochondrial myopathy discovered in a 55-year old woman who was being investigated for the cause of her asthenia. Physical examination showed ptosis of the upper eyelid and proximal muscle deficit. Histological examination of a muscle biopsy disclosed rare fibres with mitochondrial aggregates. Biochemical exploration of muscle tissue revealed a double enzyme deficit involving complexes I and IV of the respiratory chain. Clinical improvement was obtained after the patient was put on coenzyme Q10. We conclude that a diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy must be considered in patients, including middle-aged adults, presenting with muscular asthenia.
MeSH terms
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Asthenia / etiology*
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Biopsy
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Blepharoptosis / etiology*
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Coenzymes
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Electron Transport Complex II
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Electron Transport Complex III / analysis
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Female
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Humans
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Middle Aged
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Mitochondrial Myopathies / complications*
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Mitochondrial Myopathies / drug therapy
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Mitochondrial Myopathies / pathology*
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Multienzyme Complexes / analysis
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NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / analysis
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Oxidoreductases / analysis
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Succinate Dehydrogenase / analysis
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Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives
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Ubiquinone / therapeutic use
Substances
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Coenzymes
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Multienzyme Complexes
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Ubiquinone
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Oxidoreductases
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Electron Transport Complex II
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Succinate Dehydrogenase
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NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)
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Electron Transport Complex III
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coenzyme Q10