MELAS Syndrome (also known as Syndrome, MELAS, Mitochondrial Myopathy, Lactic Acidosis, Stroke-Like Episode): A mitochondrial disorder characterized by focal or generalized seizures, episodes of transient or persistent neurologic dysfunction resembling strokes, and ragged-red fibers on muscle biopsy. Affected individua
NIH MeSH · D017241Diseases
MELAS Syndrome
Also known asSyndrome, MELAS · Mitochondrial Myopathy, Lactic Acidosis, Stroke-Like Episode · Myopathy, Mitochondrial-Encephalopathy-Lactic Acidosis-Stroke · MELAS · Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-Like Episodes
Definition
A mitochondrial disorder characterized by focal or generalized seizures, episodes of transient or persistent neurologic dysfunction resembling strokes, and ragged-red fibers on muscle biopsy. Affected individuals tend to be normal at birth through early childhood, then experience growth failure, episodic vomiting, and recurrent cerebral insults resulting in visual loss and hemiparesis. The cortical lesions tend to occur in the parietal and occipital lobes and are not associated with vascular occlusion. VASCULAR HEADACHE is frequently associated and the disorder tends to be familial. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch56, p117)
MeSH classification
C05.651.460.620.520
C10.228.140.163.100.535
C10.228.140.300.275.500
C10.668.491.500.500.500
C14.907.253.329.500
C16.320.565.189.535
C18.452.132.100.535
C18.452.648.189.535
C18.452.660.560.620.520
Need clinical context, treatments, or patient-language explanation?
A mitochondrial disorder characterized by focal or generalized seizures, episodes of transient or persistent neurologic dysfunction resembling strokes, and ragged-red fibers on muscle biopsy. Affected individuals tend to be normal at birth through early childhood, then experience growth failure, episodic vomiting, and recurrent cerebral insults resulting in visual loss and hemiparesis. The cortical lesions tend to occur in the parietal and occipital lobes and are not associated with vascular occlusion. VASCULAR HEADACHE is frequently associated and the disorder tends to be familial. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch56, p117) This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is MELAS Syndrome known by any other names?
Yes. MELAS Syndrome is also referred to as Syndrome, MELAS, Mitochondrial Myopathy, Lactic Acidosis, Stroke-Like Episode, Myopathy, Mitochondrial-Encephalopathy-Lactic Acidosis-Stroke, MELAS in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does MELAS Syndrome sit in the medical classification?
MELAS Syndrome falls under the broader medical category "Diseases" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: C05.651.460.620.520, C10.228.140.163.100.535, C10.228.140.300.275.500). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of MELAS Syndrome?
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