Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0162671 (MELAS)
 587 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Due to their prokaryotic origins, mitochondria are susceptible to a number of antibiotics that target the bacterial ribosome, and this vulnerability is exacerbated by certain mutations of the mitochondrial genome. MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) syndrome is characterised by biochemical and structural abnormalities of the muscle mitochondria, in which episodes of lactic acidosis stem from dysfunction of assembled respiratory complex I. Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibiotic that has been reported to induce lactic acidosis, especially after prolonged administration, through inhibition of the mitochondrially synthesised components of oxidative phosphorylation. We report a patient with longstanding MELAS who suffered a severe lactic acidosis of rapid onset, with associated features of mitochondrial failure, shortly after the commencement of linezolid therapy and in the context of an otherwise improving clinical picture. This case emphasises the importance of circumspection when utilising drugs known to be toxic to the mitochondrion in patients with mitochondrial disease. In particular, given the biochemically plausible interaction, it would seem prudent to avoid the use of linezolid in patients with MELAS whenever possible.
 ...
PMID:Rapid-onset, linezolid-induced lactic acidosis in MELAS. 2190 11