Mitochondrial myopathy and ophthalmoplegia in a sporadic patient with the 5698G-->A mitochondrial DNA mutation.

We describe a second patient carrying the 5698G-->A transition in the mitochondrial DNA gene encoding tRNA(Asn), who has an apparently isolated mitochondrial myopathy with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia. A muscle biopsy showed the presence of ragged-red and COX-negative fibres. Analysis of the mutation load on single muscle fibres showed significant segregation of the 5698G-->A with COX-depleted fibres. These results indicate that the 5698G-->A is pathogenic.