Mitochondrial myopathy in a child with a muscle-restricted mutation in the mitochondrial transfer RNAAsn gene.

We report an 11-year-old boy with exercise-related myopathy, and a novel mutation m.5669G>A in the mitochondrial tRNA Asparagine gene (mt-tRNA(Asn), MTTN). Muscle biopsy studies showed COX-negative, SDH-positive fibers at histochemistry and biochemical defects of oxidative metabolism. The m.5669G>A mutation was present only in patient's muscle resulting in the first muscle-specific MTTN mutation. Mt-tRNA(Asn) steady-state levels and in silico predictions supported the pathogenicity of this mutation. A mitochondrial myopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of exercise intolerance in children.