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Barros CDS, Coutinho A, Tengan CH. Arginine Supplementation in MELAS Syndrome: What Do We Know about the Mechanisms? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3629. [PMID: 38612442 PMCID: PMC11011289 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
MELAS syndrome, characterized by mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes, represents a devastating mitochondrial disease, with the stroke-like episodes being its primary manifestation. Arginine supplementation has been used and recommended as a treatment for these acute attacks; however, insufficient evidence exists to support this treatment for MELAS. The mechanisms underlying the effect of arginine on MELAS pathophysiology remain unclear, although it is hypothesized that arginine could increase nitric oxide availability and, consequently, enhance blood supply to the brain. A more comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is necessary to improve treatment strategies, such as dose and regimen adjustments; identify which patients could benefit the most; and establish potential markers for follow-up. This review aims to analyze the existing evidence concerning the mechanisms through which arginine supplementation impacts MELAS pathophysiology and provide the current scenario and perspectives for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Celia H. Tengan
- Division of Neurology, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil; (C.D.S.B.); (A.C.)
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2
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Guerrero-Molina MP, Bernabeu-Sanz Á, Ramos-González A, Morales-Conejo M, Delmiro A, Domínguez-González C, Arenas J, Martín MA, González de la Aleja J. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in MELAS syndrome: correlation with CSF and plasma metabolite levels and change after glutamine supplementation. Neuroradiology 2024; 66:389-398. [PMID: 38114794 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-023-03263-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE MELAS syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by mitochondrial DNA mutations. We previously described that MELAS patients had increased CSF glutamate and decreased CSF glutamine levels and that oral glutamine supplementation restores these values. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) allows the in vivo evaluation of brain metabolism. We aimed to compare 1H-MRS of MELAS patients with controls, the 1H-MRS after glutamine supplementation in the MELAS group, and investigate the association between 1H-MRS and CSF lactate, glutamate, and glutamine levels. METHODS We conducted an observational case-control study and an open-label, single-cohort study with single-voxel MRS (TE 144/35 ms). We assessed the brain metabolism changes in the prefrontal (PFC) and parieto-occipital) cortex (POC) after oral glutamine supplementation in MELAS patients. MR spectra were analyzed with jMRUI software. RESULTS Nine patients with MELAS syndrome (35.8 ± 3.2 years) and nine sex- and age-matched controls were recruited. Lactate/creatine levels were increased in MELAS patients in both PFC and POC (0.40 ± 0.05 vs. 0, p < 0.001; 0.32 ± 0.03 vs. 0, p < 0.001, respectively). No differences were observed between groups in glutamate and glutamine (Glx/creatine), either in PFC (p = 0.930) or POC (p = 0.310). No differences were observed after glutamine supplementation. A positive correlation was found between CSF lactate and lactate/creatine only in POC (0.85, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION No significant metabolite changes were observed in the brains of MELAS patients after glutamine supplementation. While we found a positive correlation between lactate levels in CSF and 1H-MRS in MELAS patients, we could not monitor treatment response over short periods with this tool. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04948138; initial release 24/06/2021; first patient enrolled on 1/07/2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04948138.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Paz Guerrero-Molina
- Neurology Department, Neuromuscular Disorders Unit, University Hospital, 12 de Octubre Avda. de Córdoba, S/N 28041, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Ana Ramos-González
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Morales-Conejo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- National Reference Center for Congenital Errors of Metabolism (CSUR) an European Reference Center for Inherited Metabolic Disease (MetabERN), University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Spanish Network for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBERER), U723, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aitor Delmiro
- Spanish Network for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBERER), U723, Madrid, Spain
- Mitochondrial and Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital, 12 de Octubre' ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain
- Research Institute ('imas12'), University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Domínguez-González
- Neurology Department, Neuromuscular Disorders Unit, University Hospital, 12 de Octubre Avda. de Córdoba, S/N 28041, Madrid, Spain
- National Reference Center for Congenital Errors of Metabolism (CSUR) an European Reference Center for Inherited Metabolic Disease (MetabERN), University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Spanish Network for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBERER), U723, Madrid, Spain
- Research Institute ('imas12'), University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Arenas
- Spanish Network for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBERER), U723, Madrid, Spain
- Mitochondrial and Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital, 12 de Octubre' ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain
- Research Institute ('imas12'), University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A Martín
- Spanish Network for Biomedical Research in Rare Diseases (CIBERER), U723, Madrid, Spain
- Mitochondrial and Neuromuscular Diseases Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital, 12 de Octubre' ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain
- Research Institute ('imas12'), University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús González de la Aleja
- National Reference Center for Congenital Errors of Metabolism (CSUR) an European Reference Center for Inherited Metabolic Disease (MetabERN), University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Neurology Department, Epilepsy Unit, University Hospital, 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
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Stefanetti R, Ng Y, Errington L, Blain A, McFarland R, Gorman GS. L-arginine in Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like Episodes: A Systematic Review. Neurology 2022; 98:e2318-e2328. [PMID: 35428733 PMCID: PMC9202525 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Stroke management in the context of primary mitochondrial disease is clinically challenging, and the best treatment options for patients with stroke-like episodes remain uncertain. We sought to perform a systematic review of the safety and efficacy of l-arginine use in the acute and prophylactic management of stroke-like episodes in patients with mitochondrial disease. Methods The systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020181230). We searched 6 databases from inception to January 15, 2021: MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Original articles and registered trials available, in English, reporting l-arginine use in the acute or prophylactic management of stroke-like episodes in patients with genetically confirmed mitochondrial disease were eligible for inclusion. Data on safety and treatment response were extracted and summarized by multiple observers. Risk of bias was assessed by the methodologic quality of case reports, case series, and a risk-of-bias checklist for nonrandomized studies. Quality of evidence was synthesized with the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence and Grade of Recommendations. The predetermined main outcome measures were clinical response to l-arginine treatment, adverse events, withdrawals, and deaths (on treatment and/or during follow-up), as defined by the author. Results Thirty-seven articles met inclusion criteria (0 randomized controlled trials; 3 open-label; 1 retrospective cohort; 33 case reports/case series) (N = 91 patients; 86% m.3243A>G). In the case reports, 54% of patients reported a positive clinical response to acute l-arginine, of which 40% were concomitantly treated with antiepileptic drugs. Improved headache at 24 hours was the greatest reported benefit in response to IV l-arginine in the open-label trials (31 of 39, 79%). In 15 of 48 patients (31%) who positively responded to prophylactic l-arginine, antiepileptic drugs were either used (7 of 15) or unreported (8 of 15). Moderate adverse events were reported in the follow-up of both IV and oral l-arginine treatment, and 11 patients (12%) died during follow-up or while on prophylactic treatment. Discussion The available evidence is of poor methodologic quality and classified as Level 5. IV and oral l-arginine confers no demonstrable clinical benefit in either the acute or prophylactic treatment of mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes, with more robust controlled trials required to assess its efficacy and safety profile.
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Cheng W, Zhang Y, He L. MRI Features of Stroke-Like Episodes in Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy With Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-Like Episodes. Front Neurol 2022; 13:843386. [PMID: 35222261 PMCID: PMC8863858 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.843386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial myopathy encephalopathy lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is an important cause of stroke-mimicking diseases that predominantly affect patients before 40 years of age. MELAS results from gene mutations in either mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or nuclear DNA (nDNA) responsible for the wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and imaging findings. Neurological manifestations can present with stroke-like episodes (the cardinal features of MELAS), epilepsy, cognitive and mental disorders, or recurrent headaches. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool for detecting stroke-like lesions, accurate recognition of imaging findings is important in guiding clinical decision making in MELAS patients. With the development of neuroimaging technologies, MRI plays an increasingly important role in course monitoring and efficacy assessment of the disease. In this article, we provide an overview of the neuroimaging features and the application of novel MRI techniques in MELAS syndrome.
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Mastrangelo M, Ricciardi G, Giordo L, Michele MD, Toni D, Leuzzi V. Stroke and stroke-like episodes in inborn errors of metabolism: Pathophysiological and clinical implications. Mol Genet Metab 2022; 135:3-14. [PMID: 34996714 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Inborn errors of metabolism causing stroke (ischemic or haemorrhagic) or stroke-like episodes (e.g., that are also called "metabolic strokes" and include acute brain lesions not related with alterations of blood flow) cover a wide range of diseases in which acute metabolic decompensations after trigger events (e.g., fever, dehydration, sepsis etc.) may have a variable frequency. The early diagnosis of these conditions is essential because, despite their rarity, effective symptomatic treatments may be available for acute settings (e.g., arginine for Mitochondrial myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes- MELAS) while in other cases disease modifying therapies may be useful to prevent stroke occurrence, recurrence, or relapse (e.g., Fabry disease). The detection of a non-vascular distribution of lesions and the diffuse use of 1HMRS are often diriment in the differential of ischemic and metabolic strokes. This review summarized the main clinical features and the pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke and stroke-like episodes in inborn errors of metabolism presenting with stroke as part of natural history of the disease. These conditions belong to different etiological groups, such as organic acidurias, mitochondrial encephalopathies, homocystinuria and remethylation disorders, urea cycle disorders, lysosomal diseases (e.g. Fabry disease, glycogen storage disease), congenital disorders of glycosylation, neurotransmitter disorders, adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency and few other neurometabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mastrangelo
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit - Department of Human Neuroscience-Sapienza, Università di Roma, Italy
| | - Giacomina Ricciardi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit - Department of Human Neuroscience-Sapienza, Università di Roma, Italy
| | - Laura Giordo
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit - Department of Human Neuroscience-Sapienza, Università di Roma, Italy
| | - Manuela De Michele
- Emergency Department Stroke Unit, Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza, Università di Roma, Italy
| | - Danilo Toni
- Emergency Department Stroke Unit, Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza, Università di Roma, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit - Department of Human Neuroscience-Sapienza, Università di Roma, Italy.
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Lee H, Shin JH, Na JH, Lee YM. Clinical Value of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Initial Evaluation of Patients with Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-Like Episodes. ANNALS OF CHILD NEUROLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.26815/acn.2021.00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Wang R, Hu B, Sun C, Geng D, Lin J, Li Y. Metabolic abnormality in acute stroke-like lesion and its relationship with focal cerebral blood flow in patients with MELAS: Evidence from proton MR spectroscopy and arterial spin labeling. Mitochondrion 2021; 59:276-282. [PMID: 34186261 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Our purpose is to detect the metabolic alterations in acute stroke-like lesions (SLLs) and further investigate the correlations between metabolic concentrations and focal cerebral blood flow in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) using proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and arterial spin labeling (ASL). A total of 23 patients with MELAS at acute stage of stroke-like episodes (SLEs) and 20 normal controls (NC) were recruited in this study, respectively. All subjects underwent conventional MRI and1H-MRS. In addition, ASL was performed in each patient. The measurements of creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), lactate (Lac), glutamine/glutamate (Glx) levels and the ratios of Cho/Cr, NAA/Cr, Lac/Cr and Glx/Cr in acute SLLs for MELAS patients and left parietal and occipital lobes for NC were measured using LC-model software. Furthermore, in MELAS group, the associations between relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and metabolite concentrations in acute SLLs were also assessed. In MELAS group, acute SLLs were identified with metabolic abnormalities and increased rCBF. Specifically, compared with controls, MELAS patients exhibited significantly higher Lac, Cho levels and Lac/Cr, Cho/Cr ratios, and lower NAA, Glx levels and NAA/Cr and Glx/Cr ratios. Moreover, for MELAS patients, Lac concentration in acute SLLs was positively correlated with focal rCBF. This study exhibited the neural injury with increasing lactate and cerebral blood flow in the acute SLEs. It might shed light on the underlying biochemical mechanism of mitochondrial cytopathy and angiopathy in MELAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Wang
- Department of Radiology, HuaShan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; Shanghai Institution of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical Imaging, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Radiology, HuaShan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical Imaging, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Chong Sun
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Daoying Geng
- Department of Radiology, HuaShan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; Shanghai Institution of Medical Imaging, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical Imaging, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
| | - Yuxin Li
- Department of Radiology, HuaShan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical Imaging, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
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8
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Gramegna LL, Evangelisti S, Di Vito L, La Morgia C, Maresca A, Caporali L, Amore G, Talozzi L, Bianchini C, Testa C, Manners DN, Cortesi I, Valentino ML, Liguori R, Carelli V, Tonon C, Lodi R. Brain MRS correlates with mitochondrial dysfunction biomarkers in MELAS-associated mtDNA mutations. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2021; 8:1200-1211. [PMID: 33951347 PMCID: PMC8164862 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate correlations between brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H‐MRS) findings with serum biomarkers and heteroplasmy of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. This study enrolled patients carrying mtDNA mutations associated with Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke‐like episodes (MELAS), and MELAS‐Spectrum Syndrome (MSS). Methods Consecutive patients carrying mtDNA mutations associated with MELAS and MSS were recruited and their serum concentrations of lactate, alanine, and heteroplasmic mtDNA mutant load were evaluated. The brain protocol included single‐voxel 1H‐MRS (1.5T) in the medial parieto‐occipital cortex (MPOC), left cerebellar hemisphere, parieto‐occipital white matter (POWM), and lateral ventricles. Relative metabolite concentrations of N‐acetyl‐aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and myo‐inositol (mI) were estimated relative to creatine (Cr), using LCModel 6.3. Results Six patients with MELAS (age 28 ± 13 years, 3 [50%] female) and 17 with MSS (age 45 ± 11 years, 7 [41%] female) and 39 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. These patients demonstrated a lower NAA/Cr ratio in MPOC compared to HC (p = 0.006), which inversely correlated with serum lactate (p = 0.021, rho = −0.68) and muscle mtDNA heteroplasmy (p < 0.001, rho = −0.80). Similarly, in the cerebellum patients had lower NAA/Cr (p < 0.001), Cho/Cr (p = 0.002), and NAA/mI (p = 0.001) ratios, which negatively correlated with mtDNA blood heteroplasmy (p = 0.001, rho = −0.81) and with alanine (p = 0.050, rho = −0.67). Ventricular lactate was present in 78.3% (18/23) of patients, correlating with serum lactate (p = 0.024, rho = 0.58). Conclusion Correlations were found between the peripheral and biochemical markers of mitochondrial dysfunction and brain in vivo markers of neurodegeneration, supporting the use of both biomarkers as signatures of MELAS and MSS disease, to evaluate the efficacy of potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L Gramegna
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Functional and Molecular Neuroimaging Unit, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Evangelisti
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lidia Di Vito
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara La Morgia
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Maresca
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Leonardo Caporali
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Amore
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lia Talozzi
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Bianchini
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Testa
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - David N Manners
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Irene Cortesi
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria L Valentino
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rocco Liguori
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valerio Carelli
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Tonon
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Functional and Molecular Neuroimaging Unit, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Raffaele Lodi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Functional and Molecular Neuroimaging Unit, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Goldstein A, Rahman S. Seeking impact: Global perspectives on outcome measure selection for translational and clinical research for primary mitochondrial disorders. J Inherit Metab Dis 2021; 44:343-357. [PMID: 33016339 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Primary mitochondrial disorders (PMDs) are challenging due to overall poor outcomes, no proven treatments, and a history of failed clinical trials, leading to a critical need to design future trials that can prove efficacy of an intervention. Selection of outcome measures for PMDs is complicated by extreme clinical, biochemical and genetic heterogeneity; PMDs are effectively a collection of nearly 400 individually ultrarare diseases. In clinical trials, outcome measures aim to evaluate, and ideally quantitate, the efficacy of an intervention in ameliorating clinical phenotype(s). The heterogeneity and multisystemic nature of PMDs makes it unlikely that a universal outcome measure will be applicable to all PMDs. Instead, a composite score of the individual's most worrisome symptoms may be a preferable endpoint. A further challenge arises from the tension between finding outcomes suitable for use in clinical trials (able to produce a measurable change in a relatively short period of time, namely the duration of a clinical trial) vs measures that are clinically meaningful to individual patients. A number of clinical rating scales and proposed biomarkers have emerged to capture the features of PMDs for natural history and interventional trials. Here we review our collective experiences with clinical rating scales, patient-reported outcome measures, and physiological, imaging, biochemical and muscle phenotypes as outcome measures in paediatric and adult PMDs in natural history studies and recent clinical trials. There is a pressing need to agree on a set of validated, robust, clinically meaningful outcome measures internationally, to facilitate the multicentre international clinical trials needed for optimal evaluation of novel therapies for these ultrarare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Goldstein
- Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shamima Rahman
- Metabolic Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Mitochondrial Research Group, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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Finsterer J. The metabolic hypothesis is more likely than the epileptogenic hypothesis to explain stroke-like lesions. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 5:51. [PMID: 32647751 PMCID: PMC7324943 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15758.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke-like episodes (SLEs) are a hallmark of mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode (MELAS) syndrome but occur in other mitochondrial disorders (MIDs) as well. The morphological equivalent of the SLE is the stroke-like lesion (SLL) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The pathophysiology of SLLs is under debate, but several hypotheses have been raised to explain the phenomenon. Of these, the metabolic, epileptogenic, and vascular hypotheses are the most frequently discussed. There are several arguments for and against these hypotheses, but a consensus has not been reached which of them provides the correct explanation. A recent consensus statement generated by a panel of experts applying the Delphi method, favoured the epileptogenic hypothesis and recommended treatment of SLEs with antiepileptic drugs, irrespective if the patient presented with a seizure or epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography (EEG) or not. We disagree with this general procedure and provide the following arguments against the epileptogenic hypothesis: 1. not each SLE is associated with seizures. 2. epileptiform discharges may be absent on EEG during a SLE. 3. SLLs are not restricted to the cortex. 4. antiseizure-drugs (ASDs) may not prevent the progression or recurrence of a SLL. 5. ASDs may terminate seizures but no other phenotypic feature of a SLE. 6. patients already under ASDs are not immune from developing a SLL. 7. SLLs usually last longer than seizures. 8. no animal model supports the epileptogenic hypothesis. The strongest arguments for the metabolic hypothesis are that SLLs are not confined to a vascular territory, that the oxygen-extraction fraction within a SLL is reduced, and that there is hypometabolism within a SLL on FDG-PET. SLLs may respond to antioxidants, NO-precursors, steroids, or the ketogenic diet. ASDs should be applied only if there is clinical or electrophysiological evidence of seizure-activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Finsterer
- Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Messerli Institute, Vienna, 1180, Austria
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11
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Finsterer J. The metabolic hypothesis is more likely than the epileptogenic hypothesis to explain stroke-like lesions. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 5:51. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15758.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke-like episodes (SLEs) are a hallmark of mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episode (MELAS) syndrome but occur in other mitochondrial disorders (MIDs) as well. The morphological equivalent of the SLE is the stroke-like lesion (SLL) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The pathophysiology of SLLs is under debate, but several hypotheses have been raised to explain the phenomenon. Of these, the metabolic, epileptogenic, and vascular hypotheses are the most frequently discussed. There are several arguments for and against these hypotheses, but a consensus has not been reached which of them provides the correct explanation. A recent consensus statement generated by a panel of experts applying the Delphi method, favoured the epileptogenic hypothesis and recommended treatment of SLEs with antiepileptic drugs, irrespective if the patient presented with a seizure or epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography (EEG) or not. We disagree with this general procedure and provide the following arguments against the epileptogenic hypothesis: 1. not each SLE is associated with seizures. 2. epileptiform discharges may be absent on EEG during a SLE. 3. SLLs are not restricted to the cortex. 4. antiseizure-drugs (ASDs) may not prevent the progression or recurrence of a SLL. 5. ASDs may terminate seizures but no other phenotypic feature of a SLE. 6. patients already under ASDs are not immune from developing a SLL. 7. SLLs usually last longer than seizures. 8. no animal model supports the epileptogenic hypothesis. The strongest arguments for the metabolic hypothesis are that SLLs are not confined to a vascular territory, that the oxygen-extraction fraction within a SLL is reduced, and that there is hypometabolism within a SLL on FDG-PET. SLLs may respond to antioxidants, NO-precursors, steroids, or the ketogenic diet. ASDs should be applied only if there is clinical or electrophysiological evidence of seizure-activity.
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Finsterer J, Aliyev R. Metabolic stroke or stroke-like lesion: Peculiarities of a phenomenon. J Neurol Sci 2020; 412:116726. [PMID: 32088469 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.116726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES One of the most frequent cerebral lesions in mitochondrial disorders(MIDs) on imaging is the stroke-like lesion(SLL) clinically manifesting as stroke-like episode (SLE, metabolic stroke). This review aims at discussing recent advances concerning the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of SLLs. METHODS Systematic literature review using appropriate search terms. RESULTS SLLs are the hallmark of MELAS but occasionally occur in other MIDs. SLLs are best identified on multimodal, cerebral MRI. SLLs may present as uni-/multilocular, symmetric/asymmetric, cortical/subcortical, supra-/infratentorial condition, initially resembling a cytotoxic edema and later a vasogenic edema, or a variable mix between them. SLLs run through an acute and a chronic stage. The acute stage is characterised by a progressively expanding lesion over days, weeks, or months, showing up as increasing hyperintensity on T2/FLAIR, DWI, and PWI and by hyperperfusion, that does not conform to a vascular territory. ADC maps are initially hypointens to become hyperintens during the course. More rarely, a variable mixture of hyper- and hypointensities may be found. The chronic stage is characterised by hypoperfusion, gadolinium enhancement, and regression of hyperintensities to various endpoints. SLLs originate from an initial cortical lesion due to focal metabolic breakdown, which either remains stable or expands within the cortex or to subcortical areas. Some SLLs show spontaneous reversibility (fleeing cortical lesions) suggesting that neuronal/glial damage does not reach the threshold of irreversible cell death. CONCLUSIONS SLLs are a unique feature of various MIDs in particular MELAS. SLLs are dynamic and change their appearance over time. SLLs are accessible to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Finsterer
- Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Messerli Institute, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Rahim Aliyev
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named after A. Aliyev, Baku, Azerbaijan
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Ikawa M, Povalko N, Koga Y. Arginine therapy in mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2020; 23:17-22. [PMID: 31693521 PMCID: PMC6903379 DOI: 10.1097/mco.0000000000000610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We would like to inform clinicians that the systematic administration of oral and intravenous L-arginine is therapeutically beneficial and clinically useful for patients with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), when they maintain plasma arginine concentration at least 168 μmol/l. RECENT FINDINGS MELAS is associated with endothelial dysfunction by decreased plasma L-arginine, nitric oxide (NO), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Endothelial dysfunction is also evident using flow-mediated vasodilation measurement by high-resolution Doppler echocardiography in the forearm artery in patients with MELAS. L-arginine is known to be an important precursor of NO to normalize the endothelial function in MELAS. In our clinical trial followed by 7 years follow-up study, the systematic administration of L-arginine to patients with MELAS significantly improved the survival curve of patients compared with natural history. Maintaining plasma arginine concentration at least 168 μmol/l may prevent the ictuses through the putative pathophysiologic mechanism and optimal normalization of endothelial dysfunction. SUMMARY Neither death nor bedriddenness occurred during the 2-year clinical trials, and the latter did not develop during the 7-year follow-up despite the progressively neurodegenerative and eventually life-threatening nature of MELAS. Therapeutic regimen of L-arginine on MELAS may be beneficial and clinically useful for patient care with MELAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamichi Ikawa
- Department of Advanced Medicine for Community Healthcare, Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Biomedical Imaging Research Center, University of Fukui, Fukui
| | - Nataliya Povalko
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University Graduate School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, OpenLab Gene and Cell Technology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan Respublika Tatarstan, Russia
| | - Yasutoshi Koga
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University Graduate School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
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Finsterer J. MELAS requires broad clinical and genetic work-up. Acta Diabetol 2019; 56:1087-1088. [PMID: 31165265 DOI: 10.1007/s00592-019-01360-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Josef Finsterer
- Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Postfach 20, 1180, Vienna, Austria.
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Mitochondrial Disease (MELAS Syndrome) Discovered at the Start of Pregnancy in a Patient with Advanced CKD: A Clinical and Ethical Challenge. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8030303. [PMID: 30836591 PMCID: PMC6462991 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8030303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a challenge in the life of a woman with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but also represents an occasion for physicians to make or reconsider diagnosis of kidney disease. Counselling is particularly challenging in cases in which a genetic disease with a heterogeneous and unpredictable phenotype is discovered in pregnancy. The case reported regards a young woman with Stage-4 CKD, in which "Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes" (MELAS syndrome), was diagnosed during an unplanned pregnancy. A 31-year-old Caucasian woman, being followed for Stage-4 CKD, sought her nephrologist's advice at the start of an unplanned pregnancy. Her most recent data included serum creatinine 2⁻2.2 mg/dL, Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 50 mg/dL, creatinine clearance 20⁻25 mL/min, proteinuria at about 2 g/day, and mild hypertension which was well controlled by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi); her body mass index (BMI) was 21 kg/m² (height 152 cm, weight 47.5 kg). Her medical history was characterized by non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (at the age of 25), Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The patient's mother was diabetic and had mild CKD. Mild hearing impairment and cardiac hypertrophy were also detected, thus leading to suspect a mitochondrial disease (i.e., MELAS syndrome), subsequently confirmed by genetic analysis. The presence of advanced CKD, hypertension, and proteinuria is associated with a high, but difficult to quantify, risk of preterm delivery and progression of kidney damage in the mother; MELAS syndrome is per se associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. Preterm delivery, associated with neurological impairment and low nephron number can worsen the prognosis of MELAS in an unpredictable way. This case underlines the importance of pregnancy as an occasion to detect CKD and reconsider diagnosis. It also suggests that mitochondrial disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis of kidney impairment in patients who display an array of other signs and symptoms, mainly type-2 diabetes, kidney disease, and vascular problems, and highlights the difficulties encountered in counselling and the need for further studies on CKD in pregnancy.
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Finsterer J. Patients with MELAS not only require treatment of stroke-like episodes but a comprehensive individual and family management. Acta Neurol Scand 2019; 139:86-87. [PMID: 30300453 DOI: 10.1111/ane.13036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Josef Finsterer
- Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Messerli Institute; Veterinary University of Vienna; Vienna Austria
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