Mitoch. deficiency

[Guest guest]

Hi, Everyone....Of course, due to Gareth's numerous medical issues, I just

had to read up on this. Here's two sites that are good at explaining and

I'm posting the symptoms of MD.

What is Mitochondrial Myopathies? _http://www.medicine

net.com/mitochondrial_disease/article.htm_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/mitochondrial_disease/article.htm)

Mitochondrial myopathies are a group of neuromuscular diseases caused by

damage to the mitochondria-small, energy-producing structures that serve as

the cells' " power plants. " Nerve cells in the brain and muscles require a

great deal of energy, and thus appear to be particularly damaged when

mitochondrial dysfunction occurs. Some of the more common mitochondrial

myopathies

include _Kearns-Sayre syndrome_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=30811) , myoclonus

_epilepsy_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24742) with

ragged-red fibers, and

_mitochondrial encephalomyopathy_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=1969) with _lactic

acidosis_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=1969) and

_stroke-like episodes_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=1969) . The symptoms

of mitochondrial

myopathies include: muscle weakness or exercise intolerance, _heart

failure_ (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=42321) or

_rhythm disturbances_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=84544) , _dementia_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9090) , movement

disorders, stroke-like episodes, _deafness_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24720) , _blindness_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=114302) , droopy

eyelids, limited mobility of the eyes, _vomiting_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=41943) , and

_seizures_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24742) .

The prognosis for these disorders ranges in severity from progressive

weakness to death. Most mitochondrial myopathies occur before the age of 20, and

often begin with exercise intolerance or muscle weakness. During physical

activity, muscles may become easily fatigued or weak. Muscle cramping is

rare, but may occur. _Nausea_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24732) , _headache_

(http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20628) , and

breathlessness are also associated with these

disorders.

Symptoms

_http://www.answers.com/topic/mitochondrial-disorders_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/mitochondrial-disorders)

Because more than 90 percent of the energy needed by the human body to

function is generated by mitochondria, the effects of mitochondrial disorders

can be farreaching. Research has shown that cells of the brain, nerves,

skeletal muscles, liver, heart, kidneys, ears, eyes, and _pancreas_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/pancreas) seem to be particularly affected

because of

their high energy requirements. Some of the more common symptoms of

mitochondrial diseases by organ system include the following:

* brain: confusion, memory loss, headaches, seizures, developmental

delays, and stroke-like episodes

* nerves: _pain_ (http://www.answers.com/topic/pain-1) caused by

nerve abnormalities (_neuropathic pain_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/neuropathic-pain-in-medicine) ),

_gastrointestinal_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/gastrointestinal) problems linked to nerve

abnormalities, abnormal

_sweating_ (http://www.answers.com/topic/mitochondrial-disorders#) , and

fainting

* skeletal muscles: muscle weakness, muscle _cramping_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/cramp) , muscle pain, loss of coordination,

_exercise_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/exercise) _intolerance_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/intolerance) , and poor growth

* liver: liver failure not due to excessive alcohol use and low

_blood sugar_ (http://www.answers.com/topic/mitochondrial-disorders#)

(_hypoglycemia_ (http://www.answers.com/topic/hypoglycemia) )

* heart: heart muscle weakness and disturbed electrical signals in

the heart (called heart block)

* kidneys: abnormalities that cause difficulty with absorbing

_nutrients_ (http://www.answers.com/topic/nutrients-1) and electrolytes back

into the body (called Fanconi syndrome)

* ears: hearing loss

* eyes: eye muscle paralysis, progressive loss of vision

* pancreas: diabetes (a group of conditions characterized by

excessive _urine_ (http://www.answers.com/topic/urine) excretion and persistent

_thirst_ (http://www.answers.com/topic/thirst) ) and pancreatic failure

Other symptoms include _failure to thrive_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/failure-to-thrive) in infants, poor growth, short

stature, _fatigue_

(http://www.answers.com/topic/fatigue) , respiratory disorders, swallowing

difficulties, and increased risk of infection.