Transient ischemic attack-like episodes without stroke-like lesions in MELAS

Pediatr Radiol. 2013 Oct;43(10):1400-3. doi: 10.1007/s00247-013-2661-x. Epub 2013 May 16.

Abstract

A stroke-like episode is a core symptom in mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is useful in the diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases. We report an 8-year-old girl with MELAS, presenting with a seizure and blindness. 1H-MRS showed a strikingly elevated lactate peak in the right occipital region, where no abnormal signals appeared on either T2-W or diffusion-weighted MRI. She recovered completely within a day. We describe this mild clinical condition with abnormal lactate peak in normal-appearing gray matter as a transient ischemic attack-like episode in MELAS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / diagnosis*
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / metabolism*
  • Lactic Acid / analysis*
  • MELAS Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • MELAS Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Protons
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Protons
  • Lactic Acid