A Case Of MELAS Syndrome In A Young Male Presenting With Acute Bilateral Cerebral Infarction: A Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/pqre1x19Keywords:
MELAS syndrome, mitochondrial disorders, young adults, bilateral infarcts, genetic testing, case report.Abstract
We presented the case of a 19-year-old male who arrived at the emergency department with sudden-onset involuntary movements, uprolling of eyeballs, and frothing at the mouth, suggestive of an acute neurological event. The patient was stabilized with intravenous levetiracetam and midazolam, and neuroimaging revealed bilateral acute infarcts without hemorrhagic transformation. Despite an exhaustive workup for autoimmune diseases and hypercoagulable states, no significant findings were observed. A neurology opinion and 2D echocardiography further ruled out conventional etiologies. Suspecting a mitochondrial disorder, genetic testing confirmed MELAS syndrome through exon sequencing. This case emphasizes the importance of considering mitochondrial disorders like MELAS in young patients with unexplained strokes and neurological symptoms.
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