A family demonstrating two cases (mother and daughter) of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy (MELAS) with end-stage renal failure treated by long-term CAPD

Abstract

We encountered a family demonstrating two cases (mother and her daughter) of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) with end-stage renal failure. A3243G point mutation of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was detected in each case. To treat uremia, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was considered preferable to hemodialysis (HD), because of impaired cardiac function in both cases. They successfully received CAPD more than 23 months (mother) and 40 months (daughter). There were no complications due to lactic acidosis during the CAPD period in either case. In conclusion, CAPD could be an appropriate way to manage MELAS patients with chronic renal failure complicated by cardiomyopathy.