Journal of the neurological sciences
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Two MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), and their family members are described clinically and genetically. The probands have the following features in common; normal early development, short stature, deterioration of intellectual ability, convulsions, cardiac conduction defect, sensorineural hearing loss, cortical blindness, and hemiparesis. Biochemical tests showed high levels of lactate and pyruvate in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. ⋯ Some of the maternal family members in both cases also had insulin-dependent DM and several clinical symptoms of MELAS. DM and clinical features of MELAS were transmitted exclusively in the maternal line. In these cases, DM and MELAS might be a clinical manifestation of the same metabolic defect.