Primary Mitochondrial Disease and Secondary Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Importance of Distinction for Diagnosis and Treatment

Join MitoAction and Dr. Richard Frye to discuss the distinction between primary and secondary mitochondrialRelated to the mitochondria. diagnosis. Some talking points will include:

• Primary mitochondrial disease (PMD) is ideally diagnosed by a known or indisputably pathogenicCausing disease. Often used in reference to harmful DNA mutations. mitochondrial or nuclear DNA mutation.
• Secondary mitochondrial dysfunctionThis is when mitochondria do not work as well as they should due to another disease or condition. Many conditions can lead to secondary dysfunction. (SMD) can be caused by genes encoding either function nor production of the oxphos proteins and accompanies many hereditary non-mitochondrial diseases.
• Secondary mitochondrial dysfunction (SMD) can also be caused by enviornmental factors.
• In the absence of the ability to diagnose a primary mitochondrial disease (PMD), mitochondrial dysfunction can be effectively treated with standard treatments for PMD.
• When the etiology of mitochondrial dysfunction is unknown, re-evaluation for genetic and other causes should be revisited on a regular basis.