Mitochondrial m.3243A > G mutation and carotid artery dissection

The common m.3243A > G mutation of the mitochondrial DNA tRNALeu (UUR) gene is a maternally inherited mutation causing a wide spectrum of neurological and multisystemic disorders, including MELAS, characterized by recurrent cerebral infarction from young age. Vascular pathology in mitochondrial diseases has been described for small vessels, while large vessels involvement in mitochondrial diseases is considered rare. Here we report two female patients harboring the m.3243A > G mutation, in whom the diagnosis of mitochondrial disease was made after acute dissection of the internal carotid arteries. Our cases expand the clinical spectrum of this mutation, and support the idea of large vessels vasculopathy due to impaired mitochondrial function in the vessel wall that may lead to arterial wall weakness. Thus, stroke in mitochondrial diseases could also be related to large vessels disease, but further studies are strongly needed. Moreover, mitochondrial aetiology should be kept in mind in patients with large vessel dissection, especially in those with additional mitochondrial red flags.