ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE AND THE MELAS SYNDROME, A MITOCHONDRIAL ENCEPHALOMYOPATHY

MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke -like episodes) is one of a group of heterogeneous yet clinically dist inct syndromes ascribed to a defect in mitochondrial function. Here, t he case of a patient diagnosed with the MELAS syndrome who subsequentl y developed acute renal failure is reported, Although no clear renal i nsult was evident at the time, the clinical picture was consistent wit h the diagnosis of acute tubular necrosis, the patient's renal functio n subsequently returned to baseline, This article reviews the literatu re concerning renal involvement in the mitochondrial encephalomyopathi es, including MELAS, and proposes a mechanism by which patients suffer ing from mitochondrial disorders may be more susceptible to renal hypo xic injury and acute renal failure.