Mitochondrial Disease
Mitochondrial Disease Causes
Mitochondrial disease is an inherited condition that runs in families (genetic). There is an uncertain percentage of patients acquire symptoms due to other factors, including mitochondrial toxins. It is important to know which type of mitochondrial disease inheritance is present, in order to predict the risk of recurrence for future children.
Mitochondrial Disease Definition
Mitochondrial diseases are a group of disorders relating to the mitochondria, the organelles that are the "powerhouses" of the eukaryotic cells that comprise higher-order lifeforms (including humans). The mitochondrion changes the energy of food molecules into the ATP that powers most cell functions.
Mitochondrial Disease Diagnosis
Diagnosis of mitochondrial disease can be invasive, expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Doctors experienced during the diagnosis and treating these diseases will take either a step-wise approach to diagnosis in some centers, the evaluation takes place over a few days.
Mitochondrial Disease Symptoms and Signs
Mitochondrial diseases might affect the cells of the brain, nerves (including the nerves to the stomach and intestines), muscles, kidneys, heart, liver, eyes, ears, or pancreas. In some patients, only one organ is affected, while the other patients all the organs are involved.
Mitochondrial Disease Treatment
Researchers ongoing, treatment options are currently limited, though vitamins are frequently prescribed. Pyruvates have been proposed recently as a treatment option.