Treatment of Kearns-Sayre syndrome with coenzyme Q10

Neurology. 1986 Jan;36(1):45-53. doi: 10.1212/wnl.36.1.45.

Abstract

We studied the metabolism of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) and the effects of CoQ therapy in five patients with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS). Although the mitochondrial fraction was increased in muscles from KSS patients, CoQ content was slightly low. CoQ synthesis was normal in fibroblasts from KSS patients. Administration of 120 to 150 mg/d of CoQ improved abnormal metabolism of pyruvate and NADH oxidation in skeletal muscle. CoQ therapy decreased CSF protein concentration and CSF lactate/pyruvate ratio. ECG abnormalities and neurologic symptoms also improved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bundle-Branch Block / complications
  • Bundle-Branch Block / drug therapy
  • Bundle-Branch Block / physiopathology
  • Coenzymes
  • Electrocardiography
  • Electron Transport
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory
  • Exercise Test
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kearns-Sayre Syndrome / complications
  • Kearns-Sayre Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Kearns-Sayre Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Lactates / metabolism
  • Male
  • Median Nerve / physiopathology
  • Mitochondria, Muscle / metabolism
  • Ophthalmoplegia / drug therapy*
  • Pyruvates / metabolism
  • Reaction Time
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ubiquinone / metabolism
  • Ubiquinone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Coenzymes
  • Lactates
  • Pyruvates
  • Ubiquinone
  • coenzyme Q10