Therapeutic effect of sodium dichloroacetate on visual and auditory hallucinations in a patient with MELAS

Neuropediatrics. 1991 Aug;22(3):166-7. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1071436.

Abstract

We report a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes who experienced visual and auditory hallucinations. His blood and cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels were remarkably elevated. Sodium dichloroacetate was administered orally at doses of 12.5 to 100 mg/kg/day. On normalization of the lactate levels, the hallucinations disappeared.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acidosis, Lactic / drug therapy*
  • Acidosis, Lactic / metabolism
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Auditory Perception / drug effects*
  • Dichloroacetic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Hallucinations / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Lactates / metabolism
  • Lactic Acid
  • Male
  • Mitochondria, Muscle* / drug effects
  • Mitochondria, Muscle* / metabolism
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / metabolism
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / metabolism
  • Pyruvates / metabolism
  • Pyruvic Acid
  • Syndrome
  • Visual Perception / drug effects*

Substances

  • Lactates
  • Pyruvates
  • Lactic Acid
  • Pyruvic Acid
  • Dichloroacetic Acid