Photosensitive Epilepsy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Manifestations of MERRF
Objectives. Although endocrinologic involvement and epilepsy are frequent features of myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and photosensitive epilepsy have not been reported. Case Report. A 32-year-old female was diagnosed with MERRF at age 19 y upon pr...
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Wiley
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Neurological Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8876272 |
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| author | Josef Finsterer |
| author_facet | Josef Finsterer |
| author_sort | Josef Finsterer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives. Although endocrinologic involvement and epilepsy are frequent features of myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and photosensitive epilepsy have not been reported. Case Report. A 32-year-old female was diagnosed with MERRF at age 19 y upon presence of the four canonical features and the variant m.8344A > G in MT-TK (tRNA (Lys)) (blood heteroplasmy rate: 50%). She experienced recurrent photosensitive focal and generalised seizures since age 19 y, which could be triggered by flickering light or by looking at small stones, leaves, or dirty snow on the ground. Since the last 42 months, she was seizure-free upon levetiracetam (4000 mg/d), clonazepam (1.5 mg/d), and topiramate (25 mg/d). Additionally, she suffered from secondary amenorrhoea since adolescence. She was married between ages 19 y and 25 y but did not get pregnant. PCOS was diagnosed and treated with desogestrel plus estradiol. Nonetheless, the course was progressive, particularly with regard to ataxia, myocloni, and myopathy. Conclusions. The phenotypic spectrum of MERRF is broader than anticipated and may additionally include PCOS and photosensitive epilepsy. PCOS in MERRF may respond to hormone substitution and photosensitive epilepsy to levetiracetam, clonazepam, and topiramate. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2de1029957eb4e5eb33a6483d7a5e46d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2090-6668 2090-6676 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Case Reports in Neurological Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-2de1029957eb4e5eb33a6483d7a5e46d2025-08-20T02:24:07ZengWileyCase Reports in Neurological Medicine2090-66682090-66762020-01-01202010.1155/2020/88762728876272Photosensitive Epilepsy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Manifestations of MERRFJosef Finsterer0Klinik Landstrasse, Vienna, AustriaObjectives. Although endocrinologic involvement and epilepsy are frequent features of myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and photosensitive epilepsy have not been reported. Case Report. A 32-year-old female was diagnosed with MERRF at age 19 y upon presence of the four canonical features and the variant m.8344A > G in MT-TK (tRNA (Lys)) (blood heteroplasmy rate: 50%). She experienced recurrent photosensitive focal and generalised seizures since age 19 y, which could be triggered by flickering light or by looking at small stones, leaves, or dirty snow on the ground. Since the last 42 months, she was seizure-free upon levetiracetam (4000 mg/d), clonazepam (1.5 mg/d), and topiramate (25 mg/d). Additionally, she suffered from secondary amenorrhoea since adolescence. She was married between ages 19 y and 25 y but did not get pregnant. PCOS was diagnosed and treated with desogestrel plus estradiol. Nonetheless, the course was progressive, particularly with regard to ataxia, myocloni, and myopathy. Conclusions. The phenotypic spectrum of MERRF is broader than anticipated and may additionally include PCOS and photosensitive epilepsy. PCOS in MERRF may respond to hormone substitution and photosensitive epilepsy to levetiracetam, clonazepam, and topiramate.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8876272 |
| spellingShingle | Josef Finsterer Photosensitive Epilepsy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Manifestations of MERRF Case Reports in Neurological Medicine |
| title | Photosensitive Epilepsy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Manifestations of MERRF |
| title_full | Photosensitive Epilepsy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Manifestations of MERRF |
| title_fullStr | Photosensitive Epilepsy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Manifestations of MERRF |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photosensitive Epilepsy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Manifestations of MERRF |
| title_short | Photosensitive Epilepsy and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as Manifestations of MERRF |
| title_sort | photosensitive epilepsy and polycystic ovary syndrome as manifestations of merrf |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8876272 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joseffinsterer photosensitiveepilepsyandpolycysticovarysyndromeasmanifestationsofmerrf |