Lebers+optic+nueropahty

- The disease I chose is, Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). This disease is mitochondrial inherited disease, which means that it is passed on to offspring through the mother. **What causes it?** The root cause of the disease is a change in mitochondrial DNA. The cause is by mutations in MT-DNA genes ([]). The cells that are affected by this disease are the ganglion cells of the eye. This disease causes a degradation of these cells and those cell’s axons (Bandelt //et al.,// 2005). **Signs and Symptoms:** This disease is characterized by acute and sub-acute vision loss. Vision is lost in one eye and then is followed by loss of vision in the second eye. It is seen in late adolescence to mid-adulthood (ages 19-55). **Treatments:** There is no definite treatment for this genetic disorder; rather it is a disease that is managed. Advisements such as staying away from tobacco and alcohol will help aid in not aggravating the disease There is current research being done on this disorder. A few studies being conducted on this disorder are by Janicijevic-Petrovic //et al.// (2012). The researchers of this study explore the case of a 24 year-old man who suffered from the disease. They describe the symptoms involved with the disorder as well as the methods they used to make their final diagnosis. Another study done by Klopstock //et al.// (2013) explore treatments of this disorder. The treatment they are exploring is the use of idebenone.
 * Current Research: **



References

Bandelt HJ, Kong QP, Parson W, Salas A (December 2005). [|"More evidence for non-maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA?"]. //J. Med. Genet.// **42** (12): 957–60. [|doi] : [|10.1136/jmg.2005.033589]. [|PMC] [|1735965]. [|PMID] [|15923271].

Klopstock, T.; Yu-Wai-Man, P., Dimitriadis, K., Rouleau, J., Heck, S., Bailie, M., Atawan, A., Chattopadhyay, S., Schubert, M., Garip, A., Kernt, M., Petraki, D., Rummey, C., Leinonen, M., Metz, G., Griffiths, P. G., Meier, T., Chinnery, P. F. (25 July 2011). "A randomized placebo-controlled trial of idebenone in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy". //Brain// **134** (9): 2677. [|doi] : [|10.1093/brain/awr170].

Janicijevic-Petrovic, M.A. //et al.// (2012) Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy

- case report. Journal of Health Sciences 2: 148-152.