IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 41 / Issue 3 / DOI: 10.12891/ceog15192014

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Case Report
Improvement in symptoms of the syndrome of mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like symptoms (MELAS) following treatment with sympathomimetic amines – possible implications for improving fecundity in women of advanced reproductive age
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1 The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, New Jersey
2 Cooper Hospital School of Rowan University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, New Jersey (USA)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2014, 41(3), 343–345; https://doi.org/10.12891/ceog15192014
Published: 10 June 2014
Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of sympathomimetic amine therapy on a mitochondrial abnormality known as the mitochondrial encephalopathy lactic acidosis and stroke-like symptoms syndrome (MELAS syndrome). Materials and Methods: Dextroamphetamine sulfate 15 mg extended release capsule was prescribed to a woman with a 25 year history of MELAS syndrome refractory to most other therapies. Results: Within one month of therapy the woman noticed considerable improvement in her chronic fatigue, pain, and edema. Conclusions: The MELAS syndrome is thus another condition to add to the list of various chronic refractory disorders that improve considerably after dextroamphetamine therapy. This is the first mitochondrial disorder shown to improve with sympathomimetic amines which could suggest that dextroamphetamine could prove useful in decreasing the risk of aneuploidy in women of advanced reproductive age.
Keywords
Mitochondria
Chronic fatigue
Encephalopathy
Sympathetic hypofunction
Sympathomimetic amines
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