Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy - Idebenone, Hope of Treatment

Leber hereditary optical neuropathy (LHON) is part of the class of optic neuropathies in which the mitochondrial function is impaired and is characterized by a painless, subacute, bilateral decrease of the central vision. We shall present the case of two brothers AM aged 31 and AT aged 40 who were diagnosed with LHON and whom we initiated treatment with idebenone 900 mg / day with monitoring at one month and 6 months. The mitochondrial DNA analysis demonstrated the existence of mutations 11778G>A for the mtND4 gene in both patients. Idebenone is a synthetic benzoquinone, analogue of ubiquinone. We found a slight but significant improvement in the visual field in patient AM at one month of treatment. We have not found another case in the literature with an improvement in vision so fast after this treatment, and this has led us to write this article. Keywords: Leber hereditary optical neuropathy (LHON), idebenone, mutations 11778G>A, mtND4 gene