Complex III Deficiency

Complex III Deficiency

Long Name: Ubiquinone-cytochrome c oxidoreductase deficiency

Symptoms: Four major forms:

Fatal infantile encephalomyopathy, congenital lactic acidosis, hypotonia, dystrophic posturing, seizures, and coma. Ragged-red fibers common.

Encephalomyopathies of later onset (childhood to adult life): various combinations of weakness, short stature, ataxia, dementia, hearing loss, sensory neuropathy, pigmentary retinopathy, and pyramidal signs. Ragged-red fibers common. Possible lactic acidosis.

Myopathy, with exercise intolerance evolving into fixed weakness. Ragged-red fibers common. Possible lactic acidosis.

Infantile histiocytoid cardiomyopathy

 

Treatment: As with all mitochondrial diseases, there is no cure for Complex III deficiency. A variety of treatments, which may or may not be effective, can include such metabolic therapies as: riboflavin, thiamine, biotin, co-enzyme Q10, carnitine, and the ketogenic diet. Therapies for the infantile multisystem form have been unsuccessful.