MELAS SYNDROME

Course overview

MITOCHONDRIAL ENCEPHALOMYOPATHY, LACTIC ACIDOSIS AND STROKE-LIKE EPISODES (MELAS) IS A MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE PRIMARILY AFFECTING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND MUSCLES. MELAS PRESENTS IN CHILDREN OR YOUNG ADULTS AS RECURRENT EPISODES OF ENCEPHALOPATHY, MYOPATHY, HEADACHE, AND FOCAL NEUROLOGICAL DEFICITS. THE CONDITION IS RELENTLESSLY PROGRESSIVE, RESULTING IN NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT BY ADOLESCENCE OR EARLY ADULTHOOD. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF MELAS SYNDROME AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.