Clinical and audiological follow up of a family with the 8363G>A mutation in the mitochondrial DNA

Neuromuscul Disord. 2009 Apr;19(4):291-6. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2009.01.013. Epub 2009 Feb 23.

Abstract

Hearing loss is relatively common in mtDNA-related disorders. While auditory function has been assessed fully in the syndrome of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes, few studies have investigated the degree of progressive hearing deficit in individuals bearing other mtDNA mutations. We performed a 4-year clinical and audiological follow up in a family carrying the 8363G>A mutation in the mitochondrial transfer ribonucleic acid lysine (tRNA(Lys)) gene who displayed a progressive neuromuscular disease. In addition to pure tone audiometry, we considered distortion products of otoacoustic emissions, a sensitive indicator of cochlear dysfunction, as well as brainstem auditory evoked responses. A generalized increase in the auditory threshold at follow up, indicating a cochlear impairment in three cases, was noted. Distortion products of otoacoustic emissions may reveal sub-clinical cochlear dysfunction, even in oligosymptomatic patients. A complete and periodical assessment of the hearing function should be encouraged in asymptomatic relatives of patients carrying the tRNA(Lys) 8363G>A mutation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Audiometry
  • Auditory Threshold / physiology
  • Cochlea / metabolism
  • Cochlea / physiopathology
  • Comorbidity
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Disease Progression
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / genetics
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genetic Testing
  • Genotype
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / genetics*
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / metabolism
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / genetics*
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Diseases / physiopathology
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / genetics*
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / metabolism
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • RNA, Transfer, Lys / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Transfer, Lys