What is a common laboratory finding in many mitochondrial disorders?

Lactic acidosis is commonly found in many mitochondrial disorders due to the impaired oxidative phosphorylation that occurs within the mitochondria. In these conditions, the mitochondria are unable to effectively generate adequate ATP through aerobic metabolism, leading to a shift towards anaerobic glycolysis. This anaerobic process produces lactic acid as a byproduct, which accumulates in the blood and results in lactic acidosis. This laboratory finding is significant as it can indicate mitochondrial dysfunction and corroborate a diagnosis of a mitochondrial disorder.

In contrast, high blood sugar, elevated liver enzymes, and reduced hemoglobin are not typical markers associated with mitochondrial disorders. High blood sugar tends to be related to metabolic or endocrine issues, elevated liver enzymes may suggest liver disease or damage rather than a mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced hemoglobin is more indicative of hematologic conditions, such as anemia, rather than mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, lactic acidosis stands out as a key laboratory finding in the context of mitochondrial pathologies.