MELAS
MELAS is an acronym for Mitochondrial myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, Stroke-like episodes. MELAS is one of the family of mitochondrial cytopathies, which also include MERRF, and Leber's Hereditary Optic Atrophy. A feature of these diseases is that they are caused by defects in the mitochondrial genome which is inherited purely from the female parent. The disease can manifest in both sexes.