title: Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy associated with a disorder indistinguishable from multiple sclerosis in a male harbouring the mitochondrial DNA 11778 mutation.
abstract: This report describes a multiple sclerosis (MS)-like disorder in a male patient with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) harbouring the mitochondrial DNA 11778 base pair mutation. Given the population frequencies of MS and LHON, coincidental occurrence is unlikely. Hypothetically the mitochondrial mutation underlying LHON may contribute to presumably immunologically mediated involvement of other myelinated axons in the central nervous system in susceptible individuals, producing a disorder indistinguishable from MS. We recommend that investigation for oligoclonal bands in CSF, evoked potentials and MR brain scan in these patients be supplemented with mitochondrial DNA analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nørby
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Edal
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001482:Base Composition / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D015418:Optic Atrophies, Hereditary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010375:Pedigree
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands