[A study on the expression of anti-mitochondrial antibody in the brain of patients with MELAS syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the pathological changes and pathogenesis of the MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial encephalopathy lactic acidosis stroke-like episodes) by using the method of immunohistochemical staining in the brain biopsy specimens with anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA).


METHODS
We performed immunohistochemical staining in 3 confirmed MELAS patients' paraffin-imbued brain biopsy specimens.


RESULTS
Small vessel proliferation and the uneven thickness of the wall were found in the 3 MELAS patients. A lot of brown deposits was shown in the wall of small vessels and also noted in neurons.


CONCLUSIONS
The main pathological change in the MELAS brain biopsy immunohistochemical staining with AMA was the small vessel proliferation, indicating that abnormal mitochondria accumulated in the vascular smooth muscle, endothelial cell and neurons of the lesion sites. This finding was consistent with the electron microscopic discovery and valuable for the diagnosis of MELAS.
Qi
Xiao-Kun
XK
Department of Neurology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100037, China. bjqxk@sina.com
Yao
Sheng
S
Wang
Hai-Yan
HY
Piao
Yue-Shan
YS
Lu
De-Hong
DH
Yuan
Yun
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017241:MELAS Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies