CHRONIC INTESTINAL PSEUDOOBSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH LEBERS HEREDITARY OPTIC NEUROPATHY

Objective: To present a patient with Leber's hereditary optic neuropat hy who developed chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction of neuropathic origin. Patient: A 57-year-old man presenting with a protracted histor y of abdominal distension and pain, and a tendency towards constipatio n accompanied by sporadic episodes of diarrhoea. The patient had been diagnosed as having Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Results: Mech anical obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract could not be detected following radiological studies, however, distension of the stomach an d left colon was observed. A neuropathic pattern was noted on gastroin testinal manometry. Endoscopy showed normal gastrointestinal tract str ucture and no abnormalities could be found in the multiple mucosal bio psy samples taken. Conclusions: We concluded that our patient had a ne uropathic form of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction associated wit h Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. To our knowledge, this is the f irst case in which this association has been shown.