Acute blindness. Issue 11 (27th October 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abboud, H; Sabbagh, C
• Is Part Of: Emergency medicine journal. Volume 25:Issue 11(2008)
• Page Start: 779
• Page End: 780
• Publication Date: 2008-10-27
• Subjects: Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; 616.02505
• DOI: 10.1136/emj.2008.055814
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-0205

Abstract

Abstract : A 15-year-old man presenting with cortical blindness as the initial symptom of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is reported. He showed fluctuating consciousness and severe occipital headache with nausea and vomiting. T2 and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed high signal intensity in the occipital lobes. Electroencephalography showed diffuse sharp waves with focal epileptic discharges over the posterior region. The nature of stroke-like episodes and seizure mechanisms is unexplained in MELAS. Consequently, the possible mechanisms of the cortical blindness in this case are discussed.