Aicardi syndrome

The neuropsychological presentation of women with epilepsy: Clinical considerations and future directions

Objective: Cognitive, mood, and behavioral changes are common among persons with epilepsy (PWE), resulting in a complex neuropsychological presentation. Women with epilepsy (WWE) represent a distinct cohort within the broader epilepsy population due to sex and gender-specific factors impacting epilepsy semiology and treatment. However, unique neuropsychological profiles among WWE have not been established. This narrative review aims to further define neuropsychological correlates in WWE and promote meaningful discussion related to enhancing the provision of neuropsychological care within this clinical population. Method: Current literature in PWE examining differences in cognitive function, mental health, and quality of life (QoL) between women and men was critically reviewed, emphasizing considerations for neuropsychological practice. Results: WWE demonstrate a preservation of verbal learning and memory compared to men both pre- and post-surgically, with sex-based, neurobiological mechanisms likely contributing to this association. WWE also have elevated risk for affective disorder psychopathology, suicidality, and traumatic experiences. Epidemiology related to psychotic and bipolar spectrum disorders is less clear, and findings are mixed regarding sex-specific behavioral side effects of antiseizure and psychotropic medication. Finally, hormonal and obstetric factors are highlighted as important contributors to neuropsychological symptoms in WWE, with elevated risk for low QoL and increased stigma associated with greater medical and psychiatric comorbidities compared to men. Conclusions: While emerging literature has begun to characterize the neuropsychological presentation of WWE, future research is needed to define sex and gender differences in neuropsychological sequalae among PWE to ensure consistency and quality of care for WWE.

Filamin A-negative hyaline astrocytic inclusions in pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy: report of 2 cases

Although rare, hyaline cytoplasmic inclusions isolated to astrocytes of the cerebral cortex have been identified in a spectrum of diseases ranging from intractable epilepsy in pediatric patients with only mild to moderate developmental delays to Aicardi syndrome. These inclusions classically stain positive for filamin A, giving rise to the term "filaminopathies." The authors report on 2 pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy and developmental delay who uniquely displayed filamin A-negative hyaline astrocytic inclusions in resected brain tissues. Additionally, these inclusions stained positive for S100 and negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, chromogranin, neurofilament, CD34, vimentin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), and Alcian blue. These are the first reported cases of filamin A-negative hyaline astrocytic inclusions, providing a novel variation on a previously reported entity and justification to further investigate the pathogenesis of these inclusions. The authors compare their findings with previously reported cases and review the literature on hyaline astrocytic inclusions in intractable pediatric epilepsy.

Late Presentation of Retinoblastoma in a Teen with Aicardi Syndrome

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Retinoblastoma (Rb) generally presents in children <8 years of age. Aicardi syndrome (AS) is a congenital, neurodevelopmental disorder that has been associated with various ophthalmic abnormalities, but no reports have related it to a delayed presentation of Rb. This report describes the late presentation of Rb in a teenage patient with AS and suggests modifications in ophthalmic screening to facilitate early detection.

METHODS

A chart review was conducted of a patient with AS. We examined the ophthalmic history, fundus images and B-scan ultrasonography. Histopathological analysis was conducted on globe sections.

RESULTS

The patient's ophthalmic history was consistent with normal findings of AS: fundus images and B-scan ultrasonography revealed chorioretinal lacunae and an area of retinal detachment, respectively. The patient presented with chronic irritation and mydriasis of the blind left eye. This was enucleated as treatment. Histopathology revealed a focally differentiated Rb. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin and negative for the wild-type Rb protein, and a high Ki-67 proliferation index was shown.

CONCLUSION

Our patient was diagnosed with Rb at age 16. AS has been associated with numerous ophthalmic findings, but this is the first report relating it to a late Rb presentation. Meticulous ophthalmic examinations should be considered through the teenage years and early adulthood of AS patients.

The genetic landscape of infantile spasms

Infantile spasms (IS) is an early-onset epileptic encephalopathy of unknown etiology in ∼40% of patients. We hypothesized that unexplained IS cases represent a large collection of rare single-gene disorders. We investigated 44 children with unexplained IS using comparative genomic hybridisation arrays (aCGH) (n = 44) followed by targeted sequencing of 35 known epilepsy genes (n = 8) or whole-exome sequencing (WES) of familial trios (n = 18) to search for rare inherited or de novo mutations. aCGH analysis revealed de novo variants in 7% of patients (n = 3/44), including a distal 16p11.2 duplication, a 15q11.1q13.1 tetrasomy and a 2q21.3-q22.2 deletion. Furthermore, it identified a pathogenic maternally inherited Xp11.2 duplication. Targeted sequencing was informative for ARX (n = 1/14) and STXBP1 (n = 1/8). In contrast, sequencing of a panel of 35 known epileptic encephalopathy genes (n = 8) did not identify further mutations. Finally, WES (n = 18) was very informative, with an excess of de novo mutations identified in genes predicted to be involved in neurodevelopmental processes and/or known to be intolerant to functional variations. Several pathogenic mutations were identified, including de novo mutations in STXBP1, CASK and ALG13, as well as recessive mutations in PNPO and ADSL, together explaining 28% of cases (5/18). In addition, WES identified 1-3 de novo variants in 64% of remaining probands, pointing to several interesting candidate genes. Our results indicate that IS are genetically heterogeneous with a major contribution of de novo mutations and that WES is significantly superior to targeted re-sequencing in identifying detrimental genetic variants involved in IS.

Aicardi syndrome associated with autosomal genomic imbalance: coincidence or evidence for autosomal inheritance with sex-limited expression?

Aicardi syndrome (AIS), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder thought to be caused by an X-linked dominant mutation, is characterized by 3 main features: agenesis of corpus callosum, infantile spams and chorioretinal lacunae. A genome-wide study of a girl with AIS lead us to identify a 6q deletion;12q duplication, derived from a maternal 6q;12q translocation. The two intellectually impaired brothers of the proband showed the same genomic anomalies, but not the constellation of features characterizing the AIS. This could be either a coincidental observation of 2 rare conditions, but can also suggest an alternative hypothesis for the genetic etiology of AIS, indicating the existence of a subset of autosomal genes whose mutation could act in a sex-confined manner.

Ophthalmologic findings in Aicardi syndrome

BACKGROUND

Aicardi syndrome is a rare X-linked disorder that has been characterized classically by agenesis of the corpus callosum, seizures, and the finding of chorioretinal lacunae. This triad has been augmented more recently by central nervous system and ocular findings. The goal of this study was to determine how frequently other ophthalmologic findings are associated with Aicardi syndrome.

METHODS

A single ophthalmologist recorded the ocular and adnexal findings of 40 girls with this disorder at the annual meeting of an Aicardi syndrome family support group. For each subject, the examiner performed facial anthropometrics, portable biomicroscopy, and, where feasible, indirect ophthalmoscopy.

RESULTS

The most common findings were chorioretinal lacunae in 66 (88%) of 75 eyes and optic nerve abnormalities in 61 (81%) of 75 eyes. Other less common findings included persistent pupillary membrane in 4 (5%) of 79 eyes and anterior synechiae in 1 of 79 eyes (1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the ophthalmic hallmark and defining feature of Aicardi syndrome is the cluster of distinctive chorioretinal lacunae surrounding the optic nerve(s), the spectrum of ocular, papillary, and retinal anomalies varies widely, from nearly normal to dysplasia of the optic nerve and to severe microphthalmos.

Agenesis of the corpus callosum in fetuses with mild ventriculomegaly: role of MR imaging

PURPOSE

We evaluated the role of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of corpus callosum agenesis - isolated or associated with other anomalies - in fetuses with mild cerebral ventriculomegaly, as depicted at prenatal sonography.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between January 2005 and March 2007, 33 fetuses with a mean gestational age of 28.9 weeks (range 17-37) and mild ventriculomegaly diagnosed at prenatal sonography were included in this prospective study. All fetuses underwent MR imaging according to the following protocol: half-Fourier T2-weighted images along the three orthogonal plane according to the longitudinal axis of the mother, and subsequently three orthogonal planes were acquired according to the fetal brain. Quantitative image analysis included the size of the transverse diameter of the lateral ventricles, in the axial plane, and the thickness of the adjacent cerebral cortex. Qualitative image analysis included morphology of the lateral ventricles (normal, parallel pattern colpocephaly), signal intensity changes of the fetal brain, interruption of the germinative matrix, agenesis of the corpus callosum (complete/partial) and associated malformations. Postnatal physical examination and diagnostic imaging, as well as surgery, were the standard of diagnosis.

RESULTS

Mean axial diameter of the lateral ventricle was 11.6 mm (range 10-15 mm), and mean thickness of the adjacent cerebral cortex was 2.1 mm (range 1.8-3 mm); 23/33 fetuses (70%) showed normal morphology of the lateral ventricles, and 8/33 (24%) showed abnormal morphology (parallel pattern, colpocephaly). The entire corpus callosum was visualised in 20/33 fetuses (60%). In 8/33 fetuses (25%), partial agenesis was diagnosed, whereas in 5/33 (15%), there was hypogenesis. In 6/13 fetuses (46%), isolated corpus callosum agenesis was detected, and two cases of hypogenesis of the corpus callosum were misinterpreted - overestimated in one case and underestimated in another.

CONCLUSIONS

MR imaging may prove to be a useful second-line imaging modality in the prenatal diagnosis of corpus callosum agenesis in fetuses with mild ventriculomegaly.

Intractable reflex audiogenic seizures in Aicardi syndrome

Aicardi syndrome (AS) is a rare disorder which includes the triad of total or partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, infantile spasms, and chorioretinal anomalies. Seizures and electroencephalogram findings observed in AS are polymorphic with both focal and generalized seizures. We first report on a patient affected by AS who presented with reflex audiogenic seizures specifically triggered by the starting tune of a popular television news. No other type of stimuli, either simple or complex, were able to precipitate the seizures in the patient. The severe cortical-subcortical lesions commonly observed in AS are associated with hyperexcitability of the cortices and may well account for the broad electroclinical patterns noted in this group of patients. From our report, the context of these patterns should be extended to include reflex audiogenic seizures.

Pediatric neuro-ophthalmology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review will update the ophthalmologist on recent developments in pediatric neuro-ophthalmology.

RECENT FINDINGS

Research into the genetics of congenital strabismus syndromes has brought new insights into the development of the ocular motor system. There is also new literature on childhood ocular myasthenia gravis and childhood neurosarcoidosis. The results of three different surgical treatments for congenital nystagmus are described. Reviews on cortical visual impairment, dyslexia, Aicardi syndrome, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis are presented.

SUMMARY

Pediatric neuro-ophthalmology is a diverse and challenging field. As we strive to provide excellent care to these patients, we will use the results of basic science, genetic, and neurobiological research.