Evaluation of Systemic Redox States in Patients Carrying the MELAS A3243G Mutation in Mitochondrial DNA

Background/Aims: To clarify the change of systemic redox states in patients carrying the A3243G mutation in mitochondrial DNA (A3243G), we evaluated oxidative stress and antioxidant activity in the serum of patients. Methods: Oxidative stress and antioxidant activity in the serum samples obtained from 14 patients carrying A3243G and from 34 healthy controls were analyzed using the diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) tests, respectively. Results: The mean d-ROMs level of all patients was significantly greater than that of the controls (p < 0.005), and the mean BAP/d-ROMs ratio of all patients was significantly lower than that of the controls (p < 0.02). In the patients with a history of stroke-like episodes (n = 10), both mean d-ROMs and BAP levels were increased compared with those of the controls (both p < 0.01). The mean BAP level of the patients without a history of stroke-like episodes (n = 4) was significantly decreased compared with that of the controls (p < 0.001), but the mean d-ROMs levels were not significantly different. Conclusion: d-ROMs and BAP tests indicated that patients carrying A3243G are always exposed to underlying oxidative stress, even at a remission state of stroke-like episodes. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel