by A Bhatatcharyya, DJ Tymms Quaternary Journal of Medicine 1998:91:375-6. Hypoparathyroidism is referred as a recently-described endocrinopathy associated with mitochondrial disorders. We have seen a patient with proven MELAS syndrome who has NIDDM, bilateral optic atrophy, and sensorineural deafness, stroke like episode, myoclonic seizure, short stature, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, lactic acidaemia, and primary hypoparathyroidism.