Clinical, Genetic, and Radiological Features of Extrapyramidal Movement Disorders in Mitochondrial Disease.
Extrapyramidal movement disorders associated with mitochondrial disease are difficult to treat and can lead to considerable disability. Moreover, potential new treatment trials on the horizon highlight the importance of genotype-phenotype associations and deep phenotyping of the movement disorders related to mitochondrial disease.



To describe the phenotype, genetic etiology, and investigation of extrapyramidal movement disorders in a large and well-defined mitochondrial disease cohort.



An observational cohort study at a single national referral center. Among 678 patients (87% adults) followed up at the Newcastle mitochondrial disease specialized referral center between January 1, 2000, and January 31, 2015, 42 patients (12 pediatric, 30 adult) with genetic or biochemical evidence of mitochondrial disease and with 1 or more predefined extrapyramidal movement disorders (parkinsonism, dystonia, tremor, chorea, and restless legs syndrome) were included.



We investigated the prevalence and genetic causes of dystonia and parkinsonism as well as radiological findings in the context of movement disorders in mitochondrial disease. All patients were interviewed and examined. All available medical notes and clinical, radiological, and genetic investigations were reviewed.



Forty-two patients (mean [SD] age, 37 [25] years; 38% female) with mitochondrial disease (12 pediatric [age range, 4-14 years], 30 adult [age range, 20-81 years]) with extrapyramidal movement disorders were identified. Dystonia manifested in 11 pediatric patients (92%), often in the context of Leigh syndrome; parkinsonism predominated in 13 adult patients (43%), among whom 5 (38%) harbored either dominant (n = 1) or recessive (n = 4) mutations in POLG. Eleven adult patients (37%) manifested with either generalized or multifocal dystonia related to mutations in mitochondrial DNA, among which the most common were the m.11778G>A mutation and mutations in MT-ATP6 (3 of 11 patients [27%] each). Bilateral basal ganglia lesions were the most common finding in brain magnetic resonance imaging, usually associated with generalized dystonia or Leigh syndrome.



Dystonia, often associated with Leigh syndrome, was the most common extrapyramidal movement disorder among pediatric patients with mitochondrial disease. Parkinsonism was the most prevalent extrapyramidal movement disorder in adults and was commonly associated with POLG mutations; dystonia was predominantly associated with mitochondrial DNA mutations. These findings may help direct genetic screening in a busy neurology outpatient setting.
Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland2Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Mika H
MH
Martikainen
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Yi Shiau
YS
Ng
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Gráinne S
GS
Gorman
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Charlotte L
CL
Alston
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Emma L
EL
Blakely
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Andrew M
AM
Schaefer
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England3Department of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England4Medical Resear.
Patrick F
PF
Chinnery
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
David J
DJ
Burn
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Robert W
RW
Taylor
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Robert
R
McFarland
Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Doug M
DM
Turnbull
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000074002:DNA Polymerase gamma; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; C501005:MT-ATP6 protein, human; D000074002:DNA Polymerase gamma; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; C413027:POLG protein, human; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases