Affection of immune cells by a C10orf2 mutation manifesting as mitochondrial myopathy and transient sensory transverse syndrome

Cerebral imaging in adult mitochondrial disorders

OBJECTIVES

Among the organs/tissues affected in mitochondrial disorders (MIDs), the brain is the second most frequently affected. Cerebral imaging may correlate with clinical findings but not necessarily. This review summarises and discusses current knowledge and recent advances concerning cerebral abnormalities on imaging in adult MIDs (≥18y).

METHODS

Systematic literature review.

RESULTS

The most common cerebral abnormalities in imaging in adult MIDs are, as in pediatric MIDs, white matter lesions, grey matter lesions, atrophy, optic atrophy, stroke-like lesions, calcifications, and ischemic stroke. Cerebral lesions may remain stable over years but some may undergo dynamic changes within shorter or longer period of times. Typical dynamic lesions are stroke-like lesions and grey matter lesions in the sense of progression or regression. Since cerebral lesions on imaging may or may not go along with clinical manifestations, it is crucial to screen all MID patients for cerebral involvement, which can be effectively accomplished by application of the MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebral imaging is of paramount importance for diagnosing and monitoring cerebral involvement in MIDs. Cerebral imaging in MIDs contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis of cerebral involvement in MIDs.

Mitochondrial disorder mimicking rheumatoid disease

OBJECTIVE

Mitochondrial disorders (MIDs) may manifest phenotypically with a plethora of clinical features, but polyarthralgia and cutaneous lesions are still infrequently reported and recognized as phenotypic manifestations of a MID.

CASE REPORT

The patient is a 27-year-old Caucasian female with a history of preterm birth, symptomatic myopathy, and polyarthralgia since infancy, followed by multiple endocrinopathies including pituitary insufficiency, cardiac conduction defects, nephrolithiasis, aseptic chronic pancreatitis and sialadenitis, anemia, hyperlipidemia, and dysmorphic features. The patient reported to have profited from hydrocortisone and long-term chloroquine, but hardly from long-term immunosuppression with various immunosuppressants. The diagnosis MID was established upon the multiorgan nature of the disease, presence of core clinical features of a MID, and a muscle biopsy indicative of a mitochondrial defect. The family history was positive for mitochondrial features in the mother and grandmother from the mother's side.

CONCLUSION

Seronegative and non-destructive polyarthralgia and unexplained cutaneous features mimicking cutaneous lupus should be considered as a phenotypic feature of a multisystem MID (mitochondrial multiorgan disorder syndrome, MIMODS). Mitochondrial metabolic defects may trigger secondary immune reactions. Core clinical features of a non-specific MID with infantile onset include symptomatic myopathy, endocrine abnormalities, cardiac conduction defects, dysmorphism, hyperlipidemia, anemia, and nephrolithiasis.