MELAS syndrome mimicking somatoform disorder

Background Mitochondrial disorders are underdiagnosed and the variable symptomatology, which is not always explained by the medical test results and often includes mental symptoms, can mimic somatoform disorder. Method Case report of a woman with multisystemic symptomatology arising from mitochondri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Central European journal of medicine 2011-12, Vol.6 (6), p.758-761
Main Authors: Inczedy-Farkas, Gabriella, Remenyi, Viktoria, Meszaros, Agnes, Gal, Aniko, Blasko, Gyorgy, Bereznai, Benjamin, Molnar, Maria Judit
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedicine
Case Report
Disability Evaluation
Internal Medicine
Maternal and Child Health
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
MELAS Syndrome
Mitochondrial Diseases
Reproductive Medicine
Somatoform Disorders
Surgery
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Summary:Background Mitochondrial disorders are underdiagnosed and the variable symptomatology, which is not always explained by the medical test results and often includes mental symptoms, can mimic somatoform disorder. Method Case report of a woman with multisystemic symptomatology arising from mitochondrial dysfunction diagnosed as somatoform disorder, which impaired her eligibility for incapacity benefit. Result Longitudinal follow-up, the synthesis of clinical symptoms, and laboratory data of the reported case suggested mitochondrial disease. Genetic testing proved the presence of the A3243G base substitution, the most common mutation of the mitochondrial DNA, presenting as MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, stroke-like episodes) syndrome. Conclusion The authors wish to demonstrate the importance of multidisciplinary approach in the diagnostic process when symptoms of somatoform disorder are present.
ISSN:1895-1058
2391-5463
1644-3640
2391-5463
DOI:10.2478/s11536-011-0096-z