Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) in two Mexican brothers harboring a novel mutation in the ECGF1 gene

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the thymidine phosphorylase gene located on chromosome 22q13.32-ter, causing defective functioning of the enzyme. At present 87 sporadic or familial cases have been reported and 52 different mutations identified. We present herein the clinical, neuromuscular and molecular findings of two affected brothers from an indigenous Mexican family living in a very small village not far from Mexico City, both brothers being homozygous for a novel mutation (Leu133Pro) in exon 3 of the ECGF1 gene.