Definition:

Alpers syndrome is a rare mitochondrial disease associated with mutations in the POLG1 gene encoding the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma. Alpers syndrome affects children and young adults and is characterized by the clinical triad of refractory seizures, psychomotor regression, and characteristic liver disease. The tempo of disease progression and onset varies among patients. The majority of patients are healthy before disease onset, and seizures herald the disorder in most patients.