Journal of Medical Sciences1682-44741812-5727Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jms.2006.704.708A. AbbaAbdullah 4200664Mitochondrial disease, a recently recognised and rapidly expanding field of medicine, has variable presentation. A spectrum of conditions has been described as purely a consequence of mitochondrial defect(s) while others are presumed to be causally related. We present a case of mitochondrial disease presenting with respiratory failure and discuss the respiratory manifestations of this condition and its management. There is a need for awareness of the characteristics of respiratory manifestations of the mitochondrial diseases.]]>Carroll, J.E., C. Zwillich, J.V. Weil and M.H. Brooke,197626140146Chinnery, P.F. and D.M. Turnbull,200110694101Clay, A.S., M. Behnia and K.K. Brown,2001120634648Cros, D., S. Palliyath, S. DiMauro, C. Ramirez, M. Shamsnia and B. Wizer,1992101824828Desmuelle, C., J. Pellisier and G. Serratriee,198838102102Holt, I.J. and A.E. Harding,1988331717719Polak, P.E., F. Zijlstra and J.R. Roelandt,198910281282Schwartz, M. and J. Vissing,2002347576580Shoffner, J.M.,199919341351Taivassalo, T., N. De Stefano, Z. Argov, P.M. Matthews and J. Chen et al.,19985010551060Wallace, D.C., G. Singh, M.T. Lott, T.G. Schurr and A.M. Lezza et al.,198824214271430