{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Major cerebral vessels involvement in patients with MELAS syndrome: Worth a scan? A systematic review.
{Author}: Gramegna LL;Cortesi I;Mitolo M;Evangelisti S;Lia T;Cirillo L;Tonon C;Lodi R;
{Journal}: J Neuroradiol
{Volume}: 48
{Issue}: 5
{Year}: Sep 2021
{Factor}: 4.6
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.neurad.2021.02.002
{Abstract}: Major cerebral vessels have been proposed as a target of defective mitochondrial metabolism in patients with mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome (MELAS). Cerebral angiographic techniques are not routinely performed in MELAS patients. A systematic literature review was performed to identify studies describing major vessel caliber alterations in MELAS. Twenty-three studies reporting on 46 MELAS patients were included. Alterations in major caliber vessels were present in 59% (27/46) of patients. Dilation occurred in 37% (17/46) of patients, and in 88% (15/17) of them during a stroke-like episode (SLE). Stenosis was reported in 24% (11/46) of patients: 36% (4/11) related to an SLE and 64% (7/11) to dissections or degenerative changes. During an SLE, identification of intracranial vessels dilation or stenosis could be a selection tool for new treatment protocols. Outside SLE, identification of major cerebral vessels dissections and degenerative changes may help to prevent subsequent complications.