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.

Risk factors for a first epileptic seizure symptomatic of brain tumour or brain vascular malformation. A case control study.

Principles: The risk of seizures increases in patients with brain tumours (BT) and brain vascular malformations (BVM), but not all risk factors are known. We aimed to identify factors that increase the risk of a first seizure in patients with BT or BVM.

Methods: Multicentre case-control study; 102 cases with a first seizure as a presenting symptom of BT or BVM; 121 hospital controls with BT or BVM, but without seizures, matched by centre, gender and age.