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BACKGROUND:This retrospective cohort analysis highlighted neurodevelopmental outcome predictors of genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE). PATIENTS AND METHODS:Patients' demographic, clinical and molecular genetics data were collected. All patients underwent clinical, developmental, and neuropsychological assessments. RESULTS:We recruited 100 participants (53 males, 47 females) with a mean follow-up lasting 10.46 ± 8.37 years. Age at epilepsy-onset was predictive of poor adaptive and cognitive functions (VABS-II score, r = 0.350, p = 0.001; BRIEF control subscale, r = -0.253; p = 0.031). Duration of epilepsy correlated negatively with IQ (r = -0.234, p = 0.019) and VABS-II score (r = -0.367, p = 0.001). Correlations were found between delayed/lacking EEG maturation/organization and IQ (r = 0.587, p = 0.001), VABS-II score (r = 0.658, p = 0.001), BRIEF-MI and BRIEF-GEC scores (r = -0.375, p = 0.001; r = -0.236, p = 0.033), ASEBA anxiety (r = -0.220, p = 0.047) and ADHD (r = -0.233, p = 0.035) scores. The number of antiseizure medications (ASMs) correlated with IQ (r = -0.414, p = 0.001), VABS-II (r = -0.496, p = 0.001), and BRIEF-MI (r = 0.294, p = 0.012) scores; while age at the beginning of therapy with ASEBA anxiety score (r = 0.272, p = 0.013). The occurrence of status epilepticus was associated with worse adaptive performances. The linear regression analysis model showed that delayed/lacking EEG maturation/organization had a significant influence on the IQ (R2 = 0.252, p < 0.001) and the BRIEF-GEC variability (R2 = 0.042, p = 0.036). The delayed/lacking EEG maturation/organization and the duration of epilepsy also had a significant influence on the VABS-II score (R2 = 0.455, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS:Age at seizure-onset, EEG maturation/organization, duration of epilepsy, occurrence of status epilepticus, age at the introduction and number of ASMs used are reliable predictors of long-term outcomes in patients with genetic DEE.
BackgroundEpilepsy is a hallmark of IQSEC2-related encephalopathy within a phenotypic variability ranging between early onset epileptic and developmental encephalopathy and X-linked intellectual disability with epilepsy.Patients and MethodsData including demographic aspects, gene variants, seizure semiology and timing, EEG features, neuroimaging and response to therapy were retrospectively collected in patients with IQSEC2-related epilepsy referring to 8 Italian tertiary centres.ResultsThe reported cohort included 11 patients (8 males and 3 females). Mean age at the onset of epilepsy was 3.90±2.80 years. No cases were reported in the first year of life. No specific epileptic syndromes were recognized. Predominant seizure-types in the age range 12-36 months included focal onset tonic seizures with impaired awareness, myoclonic seizures, and late onset spasms. Generalized motor seizures were predominant in patients between 3 and 6 years and between 12 and 18 years while focal motor seizures with impaired awareness were the most represented types between 6 and 12 years. No patients experienced status epilepticus. EEG patterns included a delayed maturation of EEG organization, irregular focal or diffuse slow activity, multifocal or diffuse epileptiform abnormalities. No structural epileptogenic lesions were detected at MRI. Valproate, lamotrigine, clobazam, topiramate and levetiracetam were the most used antiseizure medication. Complete seizure freedom was achieved only in 2 patients.ConclusionsOnset of epilepsy after the first year of age, predominance of focal seizures with impaired awareness and generalized motor seizures, no pathognomonic underlying epileptic syndrome and infrequent occurrence of status epilepticus emerged as the main features of IQSEC2-related epilepsy phenotype.
Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE) is a rare syndrome that presents with hyperkinetic asymmetric tonic/dystonic seizures with vegetative signs, vocalization, and emotional facial expression, mainly during light non-rapid eye movement sleep stages. The role of various genes (CHRNA4, CHRNB2, CHRNA2, KCNT1, DEPDC5, NPRL2, NPRL3, and PRIMA1) has previously been reported, though genetic etiology is assessed in less than 10% of cases. We report the case of a 5-year-old female carrying the TSC1 variant c.843del p.(Ser282Glnfs*36) who presented with a mild phenotype of tuberous sclerosis, including carbamazepine-responsive SHE, normal neurocognitive functioning, hypomelanotic macules, no abnormalities outside the central nervous system, and tubers at neuroimaging. The presented case extends the list of SHE-related genes to include TSC1, thus suggesting a central pathogenic role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cascade dysfunction in SHE and introducing a possible use of mTOR inhibitors in this epileptic syndrome.