Abstract
We reported a 3-year-old girl with myoclonus epilepsy associated with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) who was afflicted with recurrent pain attacks and allodynia on the right side of the body. Although magnetic resonance imaging showed normal intensity in the thalamus, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) revealed hypoperfusion in the thalamus. Somatosensory evoked potentials showed delayed early cortical responses, particularly on right median nerve stimulation. The parenteral administration of cytochrome c with flavin mononucleotide and thiamine diphosphate abolished the intolerable pain. This clinical improvement was objectively supported by the results of SPECT and neurophysiological findings. These observations suggested that a dysfunction of the thalamus was responsible for her pain and that cytochrome c therapy was of benefit for this symptom.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 205-208 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Brain and Development |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1997 Apr 1 |
Keywords
- Central pain
- Cytochrome c
- MERRF
- SPECT
- Thalamic hypoperfusion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology