title: L-arginine is effective in stroke-like episodes of MELAS associated with the G13513A mutation.
abstract: We report a case involving a 15-year-old boy with MELAS (G13513A mutation) who developed several stroke-like episodes in a short period of time. Intravenous administration of l-arginine during the acute phase of the stroke-like episodes reduced symptoms immediately, and oral supplementation of l-arginine successfully prevented further stroke-like episodes. This is the first report on effective l-arginine therapy in MELAS associated with the G13513A mutation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Matsuyama Shimin Hospital, Ohtemachi 2-6-5, Matsuyama, Ehime 791-0067, Japan.
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shigemi
authors.forename: Mitsumasa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017241:MELAS Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D017354:Point Mutation; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine