In rare cases, Leigh's disease may begin during late adolescence or early adulthood. In these cases, the progression of the disease is slower than the classical form. The most common treatment for Leigh's disease is the administration of thiamine or Vitamin B1. Oral sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate may also be prescribed for management of lactic acidosis. The prognosis for individuals with Leigh's disease is poor.
Death usually occurs within a few years.
Occasionally, patients may live to be 6 or 7 years of age and a few patients have survived to the mid-teenage years. Children who survive the initial bout with the disease may not fully recover and are likely to face successive bouts of devastating illness which ultimately causes death. The ultimate goals of this research are to understand what causes these disorders and to find improved ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent them. Wallace, D. Mitochondrial DNA in Aging and Disease Scientific American, pp. This fact sheet is in the public domain.